The TUC is currently participating in the project Industrial Relations in Multilingual Environments at Work (IR-Multiling) funded by the European Commission. The project explores the relationships and challenges in multilingual environments at work in six countries: France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain and the UK. London Metropolitan University has been leading on this project and is coordinating activities.

The TUC is involved in this project because we know the importance of promoting a common language at work and unions have long been engaged in activities to support workers in multilingual environments. The TUC’s learning and skills arm unionlearn have delivered English language training for 10,000 migrant workers and literacy classes for migrant and local workers across the country. 

We know a common language is essential for ensuring workforce integration – by having a common language, migrant and local workers are able to understand each other better and are more productive. A common language also helps workers to come together to bargain for decent conditions at work through their trade union. We documented an example of this process in the TUC video ‘Fairness at Work’. 

Language skills also helps workers progress at work and make better use of the skills they had from training in their home countries (as highlighted in video testimonies in unionlearn interactive ESOL module for reps (PDF).

The IR Multi-Ling project will study the outcomes of employer and union cooperation to train workers in language skills and develop effective ways to work in multilingual environments. The project team has already completed the first draft of their desk research and several case studies which identified key issues related to the use of languages at the workplace. Draft case studies on the use of languages by staff in NHS, hotels and a waste recycling plant will be published on the IR-Multiling project website http://www.irmultiling.com/

Developing English language skills is also importance to protect workers’ rights. When workers cannot understand their rights or take part in collective bargaining they are not able to fight discrimination and demand equal treatment at work. The TUC has produced a Working in the UK guide to help workers at www.tuc.org.uk/workingintheuk

The IR-Multiling project will also support this process by producing a training film for trade unionists showing different ways of overcoming the obstacles to participation by multilingual minorities. Watch this space for more!