Latin American cleaners fight for survival: lessons for migrant activism

Hearn, Julie and Bergos, Monica (2011) Latin American cleaners fight for survival: lessons for migrant activism. Race and Class, 53 (1). pp. 65-82. ISSN 0306-3968

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Abstract

This article documents the significant successes and major setbacks of a campaign led by Latin American cleaners for union recognition and better pay and conditions at the University of London. It shows how they overcame fear, resignation, intimidation, racism, poverty and cultural and linguistic alienation to find their political agency. However, their collective empowerment was met by dismissals and deportations. The article argues that there are a number of important lessons for the trade union movement to learn; namely, the need to have specific legal and campaigning strategies in place to defend its migrant activists as well as calling for the regularisation of ‘irregular’ workers. In sum, the struggle for immigrant rights is at the cutting edge of the global working-class fightback.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Race and Class
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/core/keywords/politicsandinternationalrelations
Subjects:
?? cleaning workers industrial disputes lawas london living wage migrant workers regularisation telco trade unions unisonuniversity of londonpolitics and international relationssocial sciences (miscellaneous)sociology and political sciencegeneral social scie ??
ID Code:
54493
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
23 May 2012 13:33
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
16 Jul 2024 09:03