Brown condemns strikes

02/02/2009

The strikes seen across the UK last week over firms' employment of workers from other EU countries have been criticised by prime minister Gordon Brown.

In an interview with the BBC, he described the actions as "not defensible".

The strikes started at the Lindsey Oil Refinery in Lincolnshire, by employees protesting at the decision of the plant's owner to award a contract to Italian workers.

They then spread to such a wide degree that the government has promised to investigate claims that Britons are being discriminated against on some major projects.

Unemployment is rising in the UK thanks to the financial downturn, hitting 1.92 million in latest official figures.

Research from business group the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) also showed that small manufacturing firms are cutting staff numbers at the highest rates since the recession of the early 1990s.

Russel Griggs, chairman of the CBI's SME Council, said: "Firms are steeling themselves for a very difficult few months with output and orders expected to fall at a record pace.".

"What we've got to do over time, as I've always said, is that where there are jobs in this country, we need people with the skills, developed in this country," Mr Brown said.

The prime minister's 2007 Labour conference promise to create "British jobs for British workers" - a phrase used by the striking workers - was criticised by Conservative shadow cabinet member William Hague.

He told the broadcaster that the comment was "unbelievably ridiculous and silly".

Tags; Young Family Finances, Job loss,

Regional Debt Advice; Debt Help Lincolnshire, Debt Advice Lincoln,

• Share
• 
• 
• Store
• 
• Follow
•