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Wildcat resistance to globalisation in Britain

Global insurgency | 30.01.2009 09:39 | Globalisation | Social Struggles

GRASSROOTS workers' resistance to neo-liberal globalisation is kicking off in Britain, with a wave of wildcat strikes breaking out.

Reports the BBC: "Strikes have been breaking out across the UK in support of a mass walkout by energy workers in Lincolnshire angry at the use of foreign workers. Hundreds are gathered for the third day of the original strike at Lindsey Oil Refinery after owner Total gave a £200m contract to an Italian firm. They have been joined by strikers in Grangemouth, in central Scotland, Aberthaw, in South Wales, and Teesside."
Jerry Hicks of Unite told The Times: “This should come as no surprise to anyone. The employers have deliberately and actively been looking for ways to exploit cheap labour while covering their eyes and ears to the growing rage of discontent and ignoring all the warning signs, it’s outrageous.”
But the British Chambers of Commerce warned that bringing in foreign based labour was likely to grow. David Frost, director general, said: “While I can understand the concerns about jobs, this issue is going to grow and grow because it is global capital and labour and it is not going to go away.”
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7859968.stm
 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5616686.ece

Global insurgency

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a warning from history!

30.01.2009 11:29

We need to be really careful how we approach this one - I also feel we (the anarchist we) need to put out some propaganda on the subject in general asap. In times of recession/depression, there have always been huge swings to the left and right - this strike has the potential to radicalise workers in either direction. We know that the market forces and greedy bosses that caused the contracting of the Italian firm are to blame. we also know that our Italian brothers and sisters are being exploited for their comparitivley cheap labour. we need to spread the message that we are all the victims of free market capitalism and that we have far more in common with exploited workers from other countries than with the ruling class of our own country. However, if this critique is not publicly applied to the situation, the door is left wide open for BNP etc to spread their 'they come over here - take our jobs' crap, radicalising workers disenfranchised with the failing system to the right. Conditions similar to these (alabiet much more extreme) saw hitler come to power, however, they have also given birth to numerous inspiring experiments in direct democracy and workers control. Which would you prefer?

(A) Sab

Good point

30.01.2009 12:31

A Sab makes a very pertinent point. If the class struggle nature of this dispute isn't pushed then it could quite easily turn into political fodder for the reactionary BNP.

It needs to be noted that Portuguese, Italian and english workers are all in the same boat and that we share a common enemy in the capitalist classes.

Does anyone know if any links have been made with the migrant workers in these industries?

Bruised Shins