June was a powerful reminder that change doesn’t happen in isolation, it grows when people come together. Across Scotland, from Helmsdale to Glasgow, we saw how communities are building a movement of solidarity with workers.
We were proud to take part in Everyone Blames the Weather at Timespan Heritage and Art space in Helmsdale in the Highlands, where we gathered with workers, artists, academics and community organisers to celebrate seasonal work and the people who help put food on our tables. Alongside José García Oliva’s exhibition As Long As it Yields, conversations helped bring visibility to the lives of workers, and showed how far we’ve come since 2019, when seasonal agricultural work was largely invisible.
Collaboration continues through José’s summer residency Ecologies of Migration at Forgan Arts Centre, creating space for deeper dialogue about industrial agriculture and outsourced labour in Fife and across the UK.
At another local festival, we connected with people encountering the realities for workers on tied visas for the first time. Seasonal farm workers joined us and demonstrated the skill and pace of their labour, sparking meaningful conversations across sectors. With support from artist Nicky May, our screen-printing activity opened doors to solidarity with many signing up to stay involved in our work.
During Glasgow International Festival, we joined artist Rehana Zaman at Bowling Green Together alongside partners Solidarity Across Land Trades (SALT) — a grassroots trade union working in agriculture. We spoke alongside seasonal farm workers and listened to powerful testimonies about both the opportunities and challenges of the seasonal agricultural visa system.
Across every space, one thing was clear: people want to see change for workers who come to do vital jobs in our communities. This is exactly what we are building at the Worker Support Centre. A movement where workers and communities stand side by side to improve working conditions and to make the immigration system fairer.
Together, we are building a Scotland that welcomes every worker.
Whether you’re an artist, organiser, or simply someone who cares about fair work, there is a place for you in our movement!