Foreign workers employment rights

[Explorer-8]

There are a number of workers from Czech Republic and Slovakia working with refreshment trolleys on the railway employed by a large catering company. Some of them have been in Britain for more than a year, but some less than a year.

They have been told that if they join a trade union, they will be sacked. They are often rostered to work ten hours before they can get a break. They have been told by one of their managers to push their way through the train with the trolley even if the train is full and standing. One of the workers has been threatened with the sack for only locking one, but not locking both of the locks on the ramp cupboard when she was hurrying to get off the train because it was due to depart. They have been told that they are not allowed to sit down at any time during a shift. They have recently been told that they must collect all the rubbish and put it in bags even though that was not in their original contract. They have been told that there is a large waiting list of other foreign workers waiting to replace them if they do not obey these orders.

How can they be assured of their employment rights? I know that those who have been employed for more than one year may have a case for unfair dismissal, but what about all their other rights? When most of them refuse to join a trade union, what else can they do to protect themselves and their colleagues from exploitation? Are there any books you can recommend too?