Are these strikes and demonstrations really part of a dispute against the use of foreign labour?
No, the demonstrations and strikes are not against the use of foreign labour, they are predominantly about equality and fairness for British workers. At present, the new EU laws make it possible for unscrupulous employers to totally exclude British workers from applying for UK jobs and to exploit foreign workers by engaging them on contracts in this country, at rates of pay and terms and conditions which are much lower than the nationally agreed engineering construction industry rates. During these disputes and demonstrations, the protestors have gone to great pains to explain that they have no problem with foreign workers as they have worked alongside their EU brothers for many years now, in complete harmony. Some areas of the right wing press have attempted to sensationalise the issue by inferring that the protestors were Xenophobic, or even worse by indicating that UK construction had been infiltrated by the BNP, but this is simply not the case. So what are you fighting against? Wha
