Watch your job

Originally Posted by piggy

we are in a economic depression it is time to close ranks and look after ourselves first. if the plant was located in france/italy then im opinion the contract would have been awarded to the local workforce.

Well, No. This kind of 'Country First' attitude scares away foreign investors. If you impose resolutions on business then they simply will not come here, they won't create jobs.

You can't be bullish and force companies to bend to your will, British ones may be able to be forced to use British labour but at the expense of a lot of other investment and jobs. Also, They won't be able to compete with companies based in countries which do allow them to cut costs and hence won't grow. Again, less jobs.

I like many many other people in this country have never had any vote on the EU or how little or much we want to be involved in it and those who did have a vote in the seventies didn't realise they were voting for what we have now. There used to be an attitude of "when times are hard look after your own" seems reasonable to me and lets be honest other countries have that attitude so why is it so bad for us to have it. I am not saying we should impose trade tariffs or anything like that i am saying that if a company is in the UK making profit it isn't that much to ask them to prioritise british labour with a bit of preferantial treatment when times are hard. Why is it so bad to look after your own rather then keep playing by the rules all the time.

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

I like many many other people in this country have never had any vote on the EU or how little or much we want to be involved in it and those who did have a vote in the seventies didn't realise they were voting for what we have now. There used to be an attitude of "when times are hard look after your own" seems reasonable to me and lets be honest other countries have that attitude so why is it so bad for us to have it. I am not saying we should impose trade tariffs or anything like that i am saying that if a company is in the UK making profit it isn't that much to ask them to prioritise british labour with a bit of preferantial treatment when times are hard. Why is it so bad to look after your own rather then keep playing by the rules all the time.

Because we are not talking about Friends, Families, Governments, or even small Family firms. Now, you can send them a message that you won't use companies that, in your view, do not give adequate priority to British workers but the government cannot, and should not, enforce such a measure.

It would be detrimental to the British economy in the long run, it would deter foreign companies and limit the opportunity for British companies to expand and compete with other international firms which do not have the same limitations.

Look at France if you need an example that Protectionism just don't not work.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

I like many many other people in this country have never had any vote on the EU or how little or much we want to be involved in it and those who did have a vote in the seventies didn't realise they were voting for what we have now. There used to be an attitude of "when times are hard look after your own" seems reasonable to me and lets be honest other countries have that attitude so why is it so bad for us to have it. I am not saying we should impose trade tariffs or anything like that i am saying that if a company is in the UK making profit it isn't that much to ask them to prioritise british labour with a bit of preferantial treatment when times are hard. Why is it so bad to look after your own rather then keep playing by the rules all the time.

i agree -these jobs are important to the Grimsby area so why not look after our own interests first.. the italian workers are even housed in a floating hotel in the dock [so not even contributing to the local hotels /bed n breakfast industry,]
and i also believe the italian company will on no account employ any one local
even for labouring jobs , this is viewed as the thin end of the wedge around here ,they're not welcome and locals wont work along side them.

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

those who did have a vote in the seventies didn't realise they were voting for what we have now.

This is what I was trying to say earlier. There's much about the modern EU that people didn't vote for, but the one thing they *did* vote for was a Common Market. The free movement of goods and services (including labour) between member states is a very long-standing aim of the EU, hence the old name Common Market.

Nobody who voted 'yes' in the referendums can say they didn't vote for this.

[Tezcatlipoca]

As Total is a French company, perhaps they should only employ French workers?

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Matt D

As Total is a French company, perhaps they should only employ French workers?

if they take the plant to France then its an option ,but i would not recommend sending a French workforce here .

No, they might teach our unions a thing or two, and then we'd really be in trouble.

Originally Posted by Matt D

As Total is a French company, perhaps they should only employ French workers?

I am half-french. Maybe I could get a part time job! Or just do it really badly.

Originally Posted by Damien

I am half-french. Maybe I could get a part time job! Or just do it really badly.

Or just be really, really good at going on strike?

[Arthurgray50@blu]

I am going to join this argument, and no one will like it, l strongly support these guys for what they are doing, As our so called PM, is doing nothing to stop it, which is typical, he is giving his usual B+++++++, What we have is British workers, protecting there jobs, and families. We have foriegn companies bringing in foriegn workers, l have said on another thread, that there is decent guys in this country, who can do the same work, and also to the high standard, and also to health standards at work.

We already have a power station in Kent, being built by POLISH workers, l support the strikers, very strongly - stand up for your rights and your British jobs.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

I am going to join this argument, and no one will like it, l strongly support these guys for what they are doing, As our so called PM, is doing nothing to stop it, which is typical, he is giving his usual B+++++++, What we have is British workers, protecting there jobs, and families. We have foriegn companies bringing in foriegn workers, l have said on another thread, that there is decent guys in this country, who can do the same work, and also to the high standard, and also to health standards at work.

We already have a power station in Kent, being built by POLISH workers, l support the strikers, very strongly - stand up for your rights and your British jobs.

well said arthur we need to protect our own jobs and families -British jobs for British workers--

[Tezcatlipoca]

It's not like Total (a foreign company, btw) only employs foreign workers though - is this not just one contract, which after a proper tender went out to the most competitive bidder... which happened to be a contractor using workers from mainland Europe.

Should they go with British bids instead, even if they're not as good for Total's business in some way? [a French business operating in the UK which still employs Brits and which still contributes to the British economy]

[Wayfair]

I work on a plant a few doors down from LOR and even our operators are joining in the protest as we all think 'will it be us next time?' and for all you politicly correct people lets just see how you, your wife, your kids feel when the mortgage is due and some other worker who contributes bugger all to the economy is doing the job you are highly skilled to do.

There are times to take the high ground and be all smug and loving everyone equally, now is not one of those times, we need British tradesmen doing British jobs.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Matt D

It's not like Total (a foreign company, btw) only employs foreign workers though - is this not just one contract, which after a proper tender went out to the most competitive bidder... which happened to be a contractor using workers from mainland Europe.

Should they go with British bids instead, even if they're not as good for Total's business in some way? [a French business operating in the UK which still employs Brits and which still contributes to the British economy]

all very noble and fair -until its your job gone or the chance of a job gone

i think our local workers have sent a clear message to europe and it ends in off