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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Town's employers rip off immigrant workers

12 October 2006


EASTERN Europeans are 'prime targets' for getting ripped off by employers in Weston.

The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has had a significant increase in the number of immigrants coming to its Wadham Street branch needing help.

CAB director Anne Richards said: "They often get poorly paid jobs with small employers who don't always understand employment law and they don't get treated well."

A recent case involved a 31-year-old Eastern European woman from Weston who was sacked from her job at a factory for gross misconduct because she was chewing gum on the premises.

She knew she wasn't supposed to, but other staff who had broken the same rule were given a warning.

Her employers admitted she was being made an example of and after help from the CAB she made an application to an employment tribunal for unfair dismissal.

The employer agreed to a settlement and reinstated her with no loss of earnings.

The woman said: "My partner and I and our two small children live in rented accommodation. If I had lost my job we might have lost our home. I don't know what I would have done without the CAB, I had no idea I had these rights."

Mrs Richards said: "There is underlying discrimination against people when English isn't their first language despite having the same rights as everyone else to live and work here. The language issue makes it more difficult for people to stand up and make an argument.

"The mother sacked for chewing gum despite others doing the same is a prime example of people trying to find a reason to get rid of someone.

"We are definitely seeing an increase particularly in the number of Polish people and it is a problem because they might not know our laws or where to go to get help.

"We are happy to help employers as well because there are bad employers and then there are employers that are not aware of the law themselves.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

The only people frightend of unions are the abusers,so well demonstrated on this site!
ORGANISE EDUCATE AGITATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

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The views expressed by this contributor do not neccesarily reflect the policys of The GMB Nationally or of the GMB London Region.

Who's abusing who?

From what I see, you abuse anyone who's point of view differs from your own.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Its true Terry, I'm scared to leave the house nowadays in case one of your bean bags lands on me.


Why the 1 after all the usual uneccessary exclamation marks?

I had a grievance meeting with one of my drivers a few months ago. He joined a Union just before the meeting and brought along his trade union representative to the meeting.

Nice fellow the Union rep, he agreed with everything I said to the driver and told him he didn't have a leg to stand on legally. Shame he told the driver this after he had signed/paid up, not before, even though he had all the information.

My other drivers, who were considering joining, all took note of the way the union handled it.

Guess I am not an 'abuser' then.

Anyway, off track. Back to East European drivers. I am undergoing the same experiment at the moment. Four arrived in middle of week and are doing two weeks training before being let loose on the public.

Interestingly, when I went to Poland to interview candidates I had two applicants from Polish drivers already licenced as PH in Plymouth. They had very interesting tales to tell. Needing to work a minimum of 15 hour shifts on Thursday, Friday and Saturdays to have any hope of clearing more than the £600 a week they owed to 'their' boss.

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A member of the Hire or Reward Industry

And this is only the half of it

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

Which Union?



Were these hours for the same company that imports them?

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I suspect he joined the union because he knew he was in the wrong, and most probably wanted them to pay 1000s of pounds to take you on.

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IDFIMH

Sorry Captain. Can't remember the exact union, will look it up if necessary, Rep came from Office in Northampton though.

And yes they came from same company that imports them.

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A member of the Hire or Reward Industry

In my experience the Union reps very often have more sense that their members (GMB apart).

As for the rest, I kinda think the government need to make some kind of stand on how foreign workers are treated by both employers and agencies.

The fact a person isnt 'fit and proper' to drive a cab, but is 'fit and proper' to import labour is seriously in need of review.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Captain

It was T&G.

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A member of the Hire or Reward Industry