In October 2024, a PAWA member posted a desperate message in the South West group: “Where does one report if their employer abuses them?” This was a cry for help. PAWA immediately activated its organisers from the IWW, and within 48 hours, the worker was contacted by phone.

It quickly became clear that this worker and his colleagues were enduring horrendous treatment. They reported racial abuse, being forced to work back-to-back shifts for up to 10 days in a row, underpayment, arbitrary wage deductions, delayed wages, unpaid overtime, and a workplace culture defined by fear and intimidation. These exploitative practices were enabled by the workers’ visa restrictions, which tie migrant workers to their employer in order to maintain their legal status in the UK.

Case representatives uncovered evidence of unrealistic and exploitative work demands, compounded by a punitive misuse of disciplinary processes. In response, PAWA and the IWW supported the workers in submitting a collective grievance against their working conditions.

However, the submission of the grievance triggered immediate retaliation from the employer. Three workers were denied their December 2024 paychecks, and by January 2025, two still had not been paid despite repeated efforts by the union to contact the employer.

In solidarity with the workers, PAWA and the IWW launched a GoFundMe campaign. Within 48 hours, the campaign surpassed its target, providing critical financial relief to the affected workers. This act of solidarity bolstered the confidence of the remaining workforce, who at one point began calling for a wildcat strike.

The courage and resistance demonstrated by these care workers in Norfolk show that collective action can address even the most entrenched exploitation. Their efforts mark a growing momentum among care workers to organise and resist oppressive conditions, renewing PAWA’s energy and commitment to the fight for workers’ rights.