The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) is a grassroots union that organises workers in all industries and especially those without representation by the mainstream trade unions.

We have been helping to organise and support a group of Romanian seasonal workers who have been badly exploited and threatened by their employer.

These workers have been working long hours picking food produce in the fields for very low wages without breaks and receiving frequent abuse and threats of violence by managers. They were living in cramped accommodation 6 - 7 people in every room in housing blocks or caravans. This accommodation is owned by the company and they often charge as much as £57 a day for these conditions!

Workers wages are being stolen by the employer, both directly taken out of their pay and through unreasonable charges such as paying 3 separate times for their daily travel to work. Some workers have not been paid at all for many weeks and are owed hundreds of pounds that they desperately need to send home to their families to cover childcare and medical bills.

Due to these poor conditions and the threatening attitude of the employer, workers took part in a wildcat strike on Monday 17th August and have been withholding their labour since then. Because they refused to work any more under these conditions the employer threatened to evict them from the accommodation. The IWW was able to help and extracted a number of these workers from the site to safe housing where we are now helping them to access legal advice for a case of modern day slavery against the employer and help the workers get back on their feet so that they can support their families back home. 

To continue our members struggle against the employer and ensure that we are able to help the workers with any necessities until they can get what pay they are owed we ask you for your assistance by donating to the solidarity fund.

It means a lot to all of those involved to have your support in our struggle and any amount you can donate is appreciated.

AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL!

iww.org.uk