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Latin American cleaners fight for survival: lessons for migrant activism

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Latin American cleaners fight for survival: lessons for migrant activism. / Hearn, Julie; Bergos, Monica.
In: Race and Class, Vol. 53, No. 1, 07.2011, p. 65-82.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

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Hearn J, Bergos M. Latin American cleaners fight for survival: lessons for migrant activism. Race and Class. 2011 Jul;53(1):65-82. doi: 10.1177/0306396811406782

Author

Hearn, Julie ; Bergos, Monica. / Latin American cleaners fight for survival: lessons for migrant activism. In: Race and Class. 2011 ; Vol. 53, No. 1. pp. 65-82.

Bibtex

@article{e568f03ca6244428aa7bfaa48ea77923,
title = "Latin American cleaners fight for survival: lessons for migrant activism",
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 {\textquoteleft}irregular{\textquoteright} workers. In sum, the struggle for immigrant rights is at the cutting edge of the global working-class fightback.",
keywords = "cleaning workers , industrial disputes , LAWAS , London Living Wage , migrant workers , regularisation , TELCO , trade unions , Unison, University of London",
author = "Julie Hearn and Monica Bergos",
year = "2011",
month = jul,
doi = "10.1177/0306396811406782",
language = "English",
volume = "53",
pages = "65--82",
journal = "Race and Class",
issn = "0306-3968",
publisher = "SAGE Publications Ltd",
number = "1",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Latin American cleaners fight for survival: lessons for migrant activism

AU - Hearn, Julie

AU - Bergos, Monica

PY - 2011/7

Y1 - 2011/7

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - cleaning workers

KW - industrial disputes

KW - LAWAS

KW - London Living Wage

KW - migrant workers

KW - regularisation

KW - TELCO

KW - trade unions

KW - Unison

KW - University of London

U2 - 10.1177/0306396811406782

DO - 10.1177/0306396811406782

M3 - Journal article

VL - 53

SP - 65

EP - 82

JO - Race and Class

JF - Race and Class

SN - 0306-3968

IS - 1

ER -