Migrant workers expose wins plaudits

The Unite communications department took home two awards at the TUC trade union communications awards on Tuesday night (July 7), including winner of the Best Feature category and a Highly Commended award for Best Photo/Illustration.

Appearing in the March/April 2014 edition of Unite Works, the winning feature, We’re human beings too by Barrie Clement, told of the struggles Eastern European workers face in a social and political climate that’s become increasingly hostile to immigrant workers.

It featured the voices of several immigrant workers, including Unite activist Andrei Dudau, originally from Romania, who works at a food processing firm that primarily employs people from abroad.

Judges of the awards hailed the feature, calling it “an important piece challenging prejudice against immigrant workers and the effect it has on their lives” and a “brave and timely attempt to put migrant workers’ voices centre stage.”

Accepting the award from TUC president Leslie Mannaseh, Unite Works editor Amanda Campbell thanked the judges for “recognising the bravery of these workers.

“Most of all I’d like to thank Andrei and the Unite members we spoke to for their openness and their courage,” she said. “And let’s hope that all immigrant workers everywhere in this country will wake up one day and not feel blamed for everything that’s wrong. It’s up to us in the trade union movement to help make that happen.”

Unite senior graphic designer Doug Pouch was highly commended for his illustration “London’s Bus Chaos” – a graphic that depicted how drivers employed by different bus operators can be paid different rates, even if they’re driving the same routes.

“I was pleased we were able to create a graphic that made it simple for people to understand the disparities in pay for bus drivers working for different operators,” said Doug (pictured with Leslie Mannaseh.)

“Sometimes illustrations work and sometimes they don’t – and I’m glad this one did, as it highlighted an important issue in a way that’s easy to understand.”

Unite head of media and campaigns Alex Flynn, agreed.

“The illustration really helped the media and more importantly the public understand a complex issue in an easy way,” he said. “It was widely shared on national news sites and also deployed across all our social media channels, effectively reaching millions of people. It really helped get our members’ voices heard.”

The judges called the illustration “an intricate and effective illustration that uses the familiar London transport map.

“It cleverly illustrates the pay injustice against which the union is campaigning,” the judges noted. “Bold colours and a great slogan complete the effect.”

Unite’s wins this year at the TUC trade union communications awards follow several solid years of success. Last year, the department won the Best Campaign award and the year previous, Unite won Best Feature.