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Strikers in foreign workers row win offer of 102 posts
Joe Murphy, Political Editor04.02.09
Wildcat strikers claimed victory in the foreign workers row after an offer to give 100 jobs to British workers.
The disputes that flared across the country appeared to be ending as new proposals were put to a mass meeting at Lindsey oil refinery in Lincolnshire.
French owners Total offered to create 102 new posts for Britons to work alongside Italian and Portuguese workers, giving parity between local and overseas employees.
Union sources were jubilant and predicted the offer would be accepted. There was relief in Downing Street that a wave of unofficial industrial action that had bitterly divided Labour MPs was coming to an end.
But there were also fears of a tit-for-tat row in which Britons working overseas could be targeted for recriminations by unemployed foreigners.
In the Commons, Gordon Brown welcomed the signals of an imminent deal although he was careful not to take sides. He announced that engineering employers had agreed non-binding guidelines that it was "good practice" to consider the employment of local workers.
Unite member Phil Whitehurst later told a crowd of protesters at Lindsey: "We are genuinely making progress." Amid high spirits, two Page Three models in skimpy tops turned up to cheer up the shivering crowd.
An earlier offer by Total management to create a smaller number of jobs for Britons was rejected by the unions as too small. This afternoon's offer was celebrated as a triumph for unofficial strike action co-ordinated by local organisers rather than the national leadership.
The political fall-out of the dispute continued to cause bad feeling. Six Labour MPs signed a motion branding the importation of foreign workers "exploitation" while another group demanded reform of the EU Posted Workers Directive.
Tory leader David Cameron said the affair had exposed Mr Brown's pledge of British jobs for British workers as hollow.
"Isn't the use of this slogan an error of judgment, a huge mistake, and shouldn't he apologise," he said. "At international summits he lectures the world on the evils of protectionism, but back at home he is pandering to protectionist fears." The Prime Minister retorted: "Can anybody here say that they don't want British workers to get jobs in our country? Can anyone here say that they don't want us to help British workers get the skills that are necessary to get the jobs?"
The dispute flared up after a £200million construction deal was given to Italian firm IREM which imported its own workforce, housed in a floating hotel. Unions said it was typical of major construction projects won by overseas firms allegedly using cheap labour.
Reader views (26)
there are actually over 2500 jobs, of which 100 will be 'reserved' for 'suitably qualified' uk based workers - this is the true state - the 'uk jobs' is just a feeble smokescreen to cover the offshoring of masses of uk jobs to cheap labour who will provide nothing back to the UK, as taxes etc will all go overseas. yet another traitorous act from the worst governmnet ever!
- Gary, amersham
I think french company TOTAL should sack all british employees for the unofficial strikes and offer the jobs to european people who are more eager to work. VIVA LA FRANCE!
- John Span, london
Of course, as soon as any Briton talks about foreign workers they are labelled as xenophobic or the old argument that "Britons work abroad too" comes up.
Of course foreign workers are going to come here to work because the vast majority will earn more than in their homeland, but the vast majority of them do not bring their families to live here, they send the majority of their their earnings home and can afford to do so. Is it honestly believed that in order to be competetive a British man trying to support his family and pay a mortgage in the UK should do so on the cheaper wages recieved by, say, a Polish migrant sharing a house, bills, council tax etc?
I have a partner who is Czech, she came over for 4 years and in that time managed to live in London and earn enough money to buy a flat in the Czech Republic for £25k.
No Londoner, at the moment, can buy a flat for less than £150k and no Londoner, unless they are a magician, can support a family on the lower wages foreign workers earn here.
So rather than class people as ignorant, perhaps its time to appreciate the very simple facts of how difficult it is to be a British worker in the current marketplace. Unless of course it's acceptable that all Britons should move abroad so they can afford buy a house (albeit on a lower salary) or perhaps they just shouldn't have kids whilst all other European can afford to do? Or should all Britons just give in and just be unemployed?
- Paul, london
And what of the thousands of British workers working in continental Europe? What are we to do with them? We are in the EU and therefore EU law applies. The fact that you are British does not gve you a right to a job in Britain. British workers wake up! If EU workers are better, more efficient and cheaper then tough. The only alternative is for Britain to completely drop out of Europe and this will never happen, not with a Labour government and not with a Conservative government either.
- Daniel, London
They have won nothing at all, and should hold out for a win.
Pathetic.
- P I Staker, London, SW8
surely we should care for our own during these hard times. Or is it ok to refuse them work and they lose their homes,
- c j, stowmarket
Mandelson is a complete moron who is totally out of touch having heard him comment on this last night on television. Any construction worker will tell you that if they charge £15 hourly rate, a immigrant will do the job for £10. If they charge £10 the immigrant will do it for £7. As the contract holder gets more return for his money, who is he going to employ? The experienced person charging more, or Mr EU? I'm surprised more and more people haven't joined these strikes. IK'm not being racist at all. I just believe that you look after your own first and they worry about the rest of the world afterwards. Shame everyone in this country today didn't have this ethos, including our uselss government.
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
When I applied to join a television broadcaster in 1955,application was restricted to British Subjects only. When my previous employer wanted to send me to work in Cuba in 1953, it was on the condition that a Cuban was not able to carry out my duties.I agree that EU nationals are a special case, but immigrants from outside the EU must not have equal treatment with British workers.
- Peter, Watford, England.
The North of Lincolnshire is an unpublicised deprived area with high levels of unemployment and low paid jobs.
'Education' is dire and is merely to try and keep the youth off the streets, but there are no jobs when they've completed their 2-3 year courses.
Local Companies don't bother training, they just ship in foreign workers at even lower rates.
What happened to Companies Social Responsibilty ? - it disappeared when the companies were sold to foreigners.
- cap, London
British workers must not complain about foreing workers from
the E.U.becouse here in Tenerife there thounsands of british
workers in place of local workes with high unemploment, and
yet not one from Tenerife has complaint about the british
inmigrants !
- Paul Satchell, Tenerife -Spain
British workers must not complain about foreing workers from
the E.U.becouse here in Tenerife there thounsands of british
workers in place of local workes with high unemploment, and
yet not one from Tenerife has complaint about the british
inmigrants !
- Paul Satchell, Tenerife -Spain
Disgrace. Back to pre-Thatcherite days
- Peter Glazier, Sao Paulo, Brazil
The same problem in Ireland,fair play to the workers for takeing a stand,
- Denis, Dublin Ireland
Just proves that Europe isnt working, we should get out of it, and close our borders.
- Kuldip, London, UK
Understand the worker's frustration, however should we not then accept that other EU countries stop employing us Brits in their countries ??? I for one have a number of friends working abroad, teachers, bankers and one who is in the Wine business, making good profits for himself and the rest of his 'British' family. You can't have it both ways I'm afraid, although I agree the employer's should not get away with shipping over other UE national's on the cheap, if all done rightly and to order we simply have to accept the free market/open EU borders. Why don't some of these Brits try going abroad for jobs ??? too much hassle for them ????
- Paul, London
Do these people know that Unite was signing up foreign workers to come here with their families in December 2008.
- David,Chertsey, Chertsey.UK.
its happened here.now whatever little work is left its all foreign building workers that have it and irish tradesmen are on the dole
- ciaran ireland, dublin ireland
So do you all agree with importing cheap skilled labour, whilst local skilled labour is left unemployed? Are you happy to pay for the benefits to these people who are prepared to stand out in the snow to protest against denying them the right to compete for jobs fairly? Are you the same people who cried off work because it was too cold this week?
The UK residents working in Europe are filling shortages of skilled labour because our rates of pay are much higher than virtually the whole of the EU.
By playing the anti-foreigner/xenophobia card you are just aping the Govt lies. The protesters have repeatedly stated they are not against migrant workers when there are skill shortages.
Regulations that allow companies to exploit cheap labour, by transporting (using tax free fuel) them across the continent and housing them in prison ships, whilst local workers lay idle, is wrong. Its not a free-market because the companies are bucking the market. In a sensible free market, the company would have to use the resources available locally and invest in technology and training.
Still, don't let ignorance get in the way of a lazy comment.
- NW5chav, London
If Tom has a job I'm sure we can find someone from abroad to do it cheaper.
That will then be at the 'market rate'.
- Mike Newland, London
They aren't "foreign workers". They are fellow citizens and nationals of the European Union. Someone in Florida wouldn't call someone from California a foreigner. The U.K. is now a de facto province of a bigger country, with this being formally recognized in the E.U. Constitution (Lisbon Treaty), which was ratified by the U.K. in June 2008. Once the Lisbon Treaty comes into full effect (which can be expected at 1 January 2010 if the Irish give in to the endless bullying in the coming 'decider' referendum -- best 3 out of 5 if it should go NO!), the U.K. qua country will be something of fond memories only - after 300 years. The Government was desperate to settle the strike -- lest the publicity should lead to more of the British people becoming aware of the changeover from country to province.
- Phil Jones, London UK
It isn't a victory at all. Total no doubt under pressure from the government have probably yielded just enough (they hope) to stop the strikes. The strikers should hold out for 100% British jobs, anything less is defeat and they will have established a precedent for 50% foreign labour.
- Alan Hill, Oxford
Please remind me how twice (thrice?) disgraced Peter Mandelson was awarded a knighthood?
- Marianne, SW France
Hmm. It shouldn't be done with 'unofficial walk-outs' - that's tantamount to blackmail and if things go the way of the 70s it will be extended to issues people are less willing to support.
- Roz, Chamonix, France
The consequence of this, will be that British workers employed abroad will come under the same pressure from the locals. Next it will be British goods blockaded at the ports. Goodbye free market.
- Harry H, London UK
If the British workers could do the best job at the best work rates why would anyone import workers?
I assume "union rates" are salaries above market levels?
- Tom, Watford (UK)
So much for a country which strenuously championed the Bolkenstein directive!
Have your cake and eat it, you xenophobic chavs!
- Kerwood, London, UK
