Britannia Radio

This is about those Italian workers in Immingham.  It seems to me 
that there's a world of difference in the EU's rule of freedom of 
movement applying to individuals (eg Stanislav Zfranski looking for 
work here, and a company shifting boat loads of a disciplined 
workforce under the same rules).

All the  journalists and protesters seem to be missing this point.  
It is the weak point in the policy upon which political pressure 
could be applied,  for other countries might support a change./

The other thing that strikes me is that the Swedes kicked against 
this one (Latvian (I think) building companies shipping in teams of 
workers for big projects.  The Swedes were taken to the European 
Court and lost.  Nobody in this country took any notice and now they 
are surprised and angry.  These protesters never vote for any party 
promising to do something about it, so who's to blame?

And a small suggestion.  This refinery is a Total refinery.  Organise 
a nation-wide boycott of all Total stations AND all own brand pumps 
in supermarkets etc supplied by Total.  Much more effective than 
having national disruption which will have no effect because the 
government is not allowed to give in.  So GO FOR TOTAL!

Glad that the Sunday Express puts the blame where it lies - on the EU.

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YAHOO NEWS   31.1.09

Protectionism would be 'huge mistake'
1
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has said that protectionism would 
be a "huge mistake" as talks over the use of foreign workers on 
construction projects have started.

He said that adopting protectionism - the policy of protecting 
domestic industries against foreign competition - could turn 
recession into depression.

But Lord Mandelson's comments were given a cool reception from union 
leaders who continued to argue that British workers were being 
discriminated against.

Officials from Government departments, unions, employers and the 
mediation service, Acas, spent much of the day in discussion 
following a series of wildcat strikes that erupted across the country 
on Friday.

The protests were prompted by a decision to bring in hundreds of 
Italian and Portuguese contractors to work on a new £200 million 
plant at the giant Lindsey Oil Refinery at North Killingholme, North 
Lincolnshire.

Allowing EU nationals to find work in the UK is protected under 
European Union legislation and Mr Mandelson said it would be wrong to 
try to overturn the law as it stands.

He said: "I understand people's concerns about jobs and it is 
important to make sure that both domestic UK law and European rules 
are being applied properly and fairly."

He added: "But it would be a huge mistake to retreat from a policy 
where within the rules, UK companies can operate in Europe and 
European companies can operate here.
"Protectionism would be a sure-fire way of turning recession into 
depression."

But Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union said: "No company 
should be able to discriminate against anyone on the grounds of where 
they were born.
"You simply cannot say that only Italians can apply for jobs as has 
happened in this case.
"No one is saying that different countries cannot bid for different 
contracts.
"What is happening here would be illegal under UK domestic law and it 
is about time Lord Mandelson realised that.
"He is talking about the wrong problem - he should start focusing on 
the right one.
===========================
SUNDAY EXPRESS    1.2.09  [online 7.0pm 31/1]
A WORKERS' REBELLION WILL SWEEP LABOUR FROM POWER

FOLLOWING a lengthy period of separation the final divorce between 
the Labour Party and the British working class is taking place before 
our eyes.

Working people - that is everyone who can be bothered to get out of 
bed in the morning in order to earn an honest living - now understand 
that Labour has nothing to offer. Their wrath will surely sweep this 
rotten Government from power.

Labour has endlessly indulged the welfare classes - those who choose 
to live permanently on benefits.

It has also bent over backwards to assist foreigners, whether they be 
workers from other EU countries or asylum seekers from the Third World.

But it has concealed this with a blizzard of spin and denial, 
commissioning Left-wing academics to compile reports claiming - 
incredibly - that imported workers do not deprive Britons of 
employment and getting senior ministers, including Gordon Brown, to 
fraudulently pledge fidelity to the idea of "British jobs for British 
workers".

The Government's real fidelity has been to the European superstate.

While other nations have taken a relaxed attitude towards EU labour 
market rules, it has put an army of compliance officers on the public 
payroll to ensure that no employer can favour local workers.

It has also scattered around work permits for non-EU nationals like 
confetti at a wedding.

Yesterday, in an appalling act of political deceit and cowardice, 
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn pronounced that angry British 
workers were "entitled to an answer" from companies hiring foreign 
staff when he knew full well that Government policies were to blame.
Quite disgracefully, the trade unions have connived in this process, 
allowing pro-EU fanaticism to displace their historic mission to 
defend the rights of British workers.

Now they, too, are struggling to contain the anger of working people.

There is clearly a risk the far-Right will hijack the demonstrations 
that spread across Britain yesterday.

Those taking part should resist the overtures of the BNP: British 
workers of all creeds and colours are suffering in this recession.

But one thing is clear: Labour has no understanding of or sympathy 
for the interests of those working in the wealth-producing sector of 
the economy.

That is unforgivable.