For Black History Month, we recognise the vital contributions of migrant workers within London’s public services and celebrate the trailblazing migrant union activists who continue to shape a fairer, more inclusive future for all. Migrant workers represent an estimated 44% of London’s population, and their impact in public services is even greater. They are essential not only to the functioning of our public services, but also to the trade union movement in advocating for fair treatment, workplace rights, and equality for all workers.
We present the stories of two dedicated union activists whose journeys as migrant workers fuelled their activism within the union. Their stories remind us that unions are most powerful when they reflect the diversity of the workers they represent—and that getting involved can lead to meaningful change within the union and within our workplaces.
Abiola Kusoro | National Executive Council member
My name is Abiola Kusoro, and I emigrated from Nigeria in 1995. I have been a UNISON member for over 20 years, and I originally joined because I was facing discrimination, bullying and racism from my managers. The union gave me a stronger voice, and the support my rep gave me was invaluable to my ability to advocate for myself and get a fair resolution to the case.
What inspired you to become more active in the union?
After the great support I received, I decided that I wanted to be able to provide that support to other staff in the Trust I work in and widen the reach of the union.
I am a strong believer in education, always. Regardless of age or level at work, I believe that there is always something you can learn. So, when I was given the opportunity to join UNISON’s National Executive Council, initially in the Black Members Reserved Seat and now and the Greater London Reserved Seat, I felt grateful to be able to learn and grow, contributing to better representation of Self-Organised Groups (SOGs) within UNISON and in turn, being able to utilise my learnings to support members in my local branch.
How does your background and lived experience influence your activism within the union?
Being on the National Executive Council, I have a unique opportunity to help shape the union and ensure the views of members at a local level are represented at a regional and national level. Intrinsically, the views that I hold and fight for the hardest, at a national level, are shaped by everything I am and everything I have experienced.
Having been a teacher, I advocate for the right to a good education for all.
Being a mother to 2 girls, I campaign fiercely for greater measures to protect the safety of young girls and women.
Being a Black woman, I continuously campaign for equality in the workplace and representation of Black and low pay workers.
Having held a number of low paid roles during my working life and currently holding the London low pay seat on the national council, I fight for equal opportunities and greater pathways to training and promotion for low paid workers.
What advice would you give to other migrant workers who want to get involved in UNISON?
UNISON is a union for all people. The diversity in membership we have is one of our strengths and a big part of the reason why we are a representative voice for so many people in a wide variety of situations.
The union needs your experiences, needs your views on the world, and needs you!
You never know when something you say speaks deeply to someone and will make a massive difference to their situation.
Adejare Oyewole | Chair of the Regional and National Black Members Committee
How did you first get involved with UNISON? Was there a specific reason that pushed you to join?
I first got involved in UNISON when I was refused time-off to attend a post graduate degree programme (PATH Training) aimed at encouraging Black workers to progress to management positions. After being approved to attend the course, my then manager decided that the department cannot give me paid time-off to attend the training and pay for the course on top of the release time. I challenged it with the help of a steward who then encouraged me to become a steward myself. I did this because I thought I could have been denied the training opportunity; if not for the support I got from my workplace rep. and I wanted to prevent others facing such injustices at the hands of unscrupulous managers.
Are there any specific challenges you have faced in the workplace as a migrant worker? How do you think being part of UNISON can help address this?
Migrant workers can face several challenges ranging from language barriers, speaking with an accent, cultural differences, skin colour etc. This can lead to isolation and inability to mix with work mates / colleagues. Joining one of UNISON’s Self-Organised Groups (SOGs) is one of the ways of overcoming sometimes multiple disadvantages. I have personally used membership of Black workers SOG to develop my speaking confidence. I have attended several conferences and contributed to debates on the conference floor. It has helped me to become more active in the union and getting involved in the whole democratic structure of our union.
Why do you think it’s important for migrant worker members to take up active roles within UNISON?
It is important for migrant workers to take active role in UNISON because it is only them that will understand the issues that they need help with. The slogan “nothing about us without us” – that advocates for direct participation of affected groups in policy making – comes to mind because unless migrant workers are around the table where migrant issues are being discussed, that discussion is unlikely to go anywhere in finding solution to the problem/s being discussed.
My career in local government spans 30+ years, with over twenty years actively involved in UNISON. Throughout that time, I have worked in a purpose-led and visionary way to achieve continuous improvement – challenging myself, my comrades, and others to deliver good value to our members and to champion member’s needs and aspirations.
One of my many roles is to ensure fairness, justice equity and equality as the Branch Equalities Officer. We should always remember and value who we are.
I believe in collaborative approach to drive positive change in every struggle that we face. We are at our strongest when we stand together united against hate.
Together we can make change happen, together we can make history. Yes We can – Let us do it now.
Interested in getting more involved in London’s migrant worker network? Contact Dario Lopez d.lopez@unison.co.uk
UNISON defines migrant workers as anyone with a first-generation immigrant background, including overseas and migrant workers, EU settled status workers and workers who have subsequently naturalised as British citizens or who have indefinite leave to remain.
