Should EU be allowed to work anywhere?

Feb 5 2009 By Frank Hurley

With a series of wildcat strikes taking place up and down the country, should we adopt a protectionist stance?

THE Prime Minister's phrase when he pledged "British jobs for British workers" has got people the length and breadth of the land totally confused.

Did he mean no EU or other foreign country workers could get jobs in the UK?

Or didhemean Brits had to get first offer on all jobs, then they could be offered to foreigners.

Now PM Gordon Brown says he was talking about giving British people skills so they have the ability to get work going to people from abroad.

Contract employees at Total-owned refinery at Killingholme, near Grimsby, went on a wildcat strike after they learned a foreign company had a policy of EXCLUDING British tradesmen and instead employed 100Italian and Portuguese workers on the site.

As more and more workers in Scotland, England and Wales come out on strike in sympathy with Killingholme we asked people in Glasgow if the UK's policy should be "British jobs for British workers".

Lecturer Dr Ronald Baxendale, 56, of the west end, said: "No. We've all got to learn that foreign workers must be employed in this country.

"Lots of European and other foreign students at universities decide to stay on in Scotland through a work visa scheme fortwo years. This improves our work base."

Grace Best, 38, from the south side, said: "Yes. Generally speaking jobs should be offered to British people first if they have the right qualifications.

"If not, then they should be offered to people from abroad."

William Louden, a student from the west end, said: "Yes, because that sounds reasonable. Foreign contractors are benefiting by coming here so at least they should employ British people, or afair number.

"If our workers don't want the jobs, that's when they could be offered to foreigners."

John Gallacher, 35, from the east end, said: "No that's wrong because workers from abroad should be allowed to work here.

"It helps with our economy when we have a mix of skilled people from home and abroad."

Gary MacKenzie, 38, of Whiteinch, said: "We need to try to protect British jobs.

"However, I also see the need for foreign workers to be given jobs that we can't fill if they have greater skills or if British workers just don't want to do the work."

Ann Frost, 45, from the east end, said: "If a company is refusing to employ British workers surely that's discrimination.

"And such discrimination is illegal.

"We live in the UK and should get first offer on jobs."