No one is opposed to fairness

Feb 2 2009 by Kevin Rowan, The Journal

THE speed and power of communications in this information age brings with it a degree of responsibility and a need for caution and consideration.

The highly competitive 24-hour news media market also means the propensity toward the sensational is more rife than ever. In this context the headlines associated with the trade union dispute at Total in Lincolnshire went along the lines of “British workers angry at foreign labour”.

It falls a long way short of describing the actual situation. In this case too, it was irresponsible and provocative. Workers throughout industry are angry – many have lost their jobs, most feel vulnerable and insecure – few, if any, however, blame ‘foreign labour’ for the current recession. The real anger is directed at the bankers who took monumental risks for their own monumental gains, leading to the credit crunch and fiscal crisis that is pulling industries down in spades.

Unite and GMB have both stated very clearly that the reason for the action at the Lindsay Oil Refinery is that UK-based workers were not even given the opportunity to bid for the contract that was awarded to Italian company IREM. This is crass and unacceptable any way you look at it, but right now, it was bound to be inflammatory too. Workers are angry and frustrated with an employer who has shown them an offensive level of disregard; they are not, though, at odds with other workers.

We must be wary of the kind of groups who would seek to exploit those feelings of anger and vulnerability. It was these same symptoms of the 1930s recession that were exploited by Hitler’s National Socialists in pre-war Germany. The language is poisonous, dangerous rhetoric not founded in fact and it does nothing to help resolve the challenges we face. In reality it does quite the opposite. Trade unions in the UK have campaigned strongly for better treatment for foreign workers.

Of immediate concern too is the potential decision of National Grid to outsource operations from its North Tyneside base, with the potential of 182 job losses. At a time when companies really need to be stepping up and committing some effort for the region, the last thing anyone needs in this area is another significant employer shipping work out.

The trade unions, local authority and local MP, Stephen Byers, are of one voice in this matter – National Grid needs to show the same loyalty to an area and a workforce that has delivered for it consistently well.

Kevin Rowan is Regional Secretary of Northern TUC