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Polish Migrant Workers in the North — New Communities, New Opportunities?

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Community Unionism

Abstract

In May 2004 the UK Government opened up its labour market to workers from the European Union (EU) accession countries of Central and Eastern Europe.’ The extent of migration has taken all by surprise and has had a significant impact upon the UK labour market. Establishing the actual numbers of migrants involved has caused a sense of vexation at both a national and local government level. Although, Salt and Millar (2006, p. 335) identify the Poles as constituting the largest ever single wave ethnic group to enter the UK. Significant here, is that many Polish workers are employed in low wage work in sectors such as food processing (Border and Immigration Agency, 2007). Further, given their numbers it is not surprising to find these workers also spread into other areas of the labour market.

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Authors
  1. Ian Fitzgerald
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Bradford, UK

    Jo McBride

  2. Leeds University Business School, UK

    Ian Greenwood

Copyright information

© 2009 Ian Fitzgerald

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Fitzgerald, I. (2009). Polish Migrant Workers in the North — New Communities, New Opportunities?. In: McBride, J., Greenwood, I. (eds) Community Unionism. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230242180_5

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