Monday, May 07, 2007

Strangers into Citizens


Strangers into Citizens is the latest campaign by the London Citizens (LC) which is an alliance of community and faith groups in London. The aim is to find a “Pathway into citizenship for long-term migrants who have made new lives in the UK”. To-day was a national day of action. There was a mass at Westminster Cathedral led by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor (head of the Roman Catholic Church in Britain). Followed by a “Walk” (March) from the Cathedral to Trafalgar Square. At Trafalgar Square there was a rally.

Dave Prentis, the UNISON General Secretary helped lead the march and was a speaker at the rally. This campaign is obviously a key trade union issue. Public services in Britain depend upon migrants. Unscrupulous companies employ migrants whose status may be irregular and then take advantage of this to exploit them by paying poverty wages or providing shoddy working conditions. If the migrants complain then the employers simply threaten to report them to the authorities. Dave mentioned the plight of “legal” Philippine nurses in British care homes who had their passports confiscated by their employers, who were not paid what they had been promised and were treated appallingly.

The new Greater London UNISON banner was there together with banners from Tower Hamlets and School of Oriental Studies (SOAS). There was a mass of individual UNISON members waving flags and placards.

I had never been inside the Cathedral before and apart from weddings (and funerals) I had never been to a formal Catholic service. I was christened as a baby at the local Church of Wales (protestant) which is pretty much my entire experience of organised religion. The Cathedral was packed, standing room only. London Citizens certainly know how to attract people to attend their campaigns. I enjoyed the music and the spectacle of the service.

The march and rally was also well attended and colourful. Despite the rain (The LC marches don’t have a lot of luck with the weather – discuss). The whole of Whitehall was full. I am not sure how many took part (guess several thousand) but it is far more than the May Day March last week. I have attended other LC events such as the call for a “Living Wage”. But this was the biggest and most well attended.

I think it is fair to say that there is a degree of reserve by many on the “Left” about London Citizens. Obviously the role of the faith groups in secular politics can be controversial (it came up yesterday at the mosque). Sometimes London Citizens has been criticised over their methods (too "confrontational" and even for being "opportunistic"). However, they can mobilise and organise large numbers of people to turn out and successfully campaign on basic Labour movement issues that should unite us all. The trade unions (and the Labour Party) need to work out how to respond to this.

No comments: