British workers strike over foreign labour

20/05/09 20:43 CET

world news

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Parts of Britain have been hit by more strikes against the use of foreign workers. Contract staff walked out at a number of energy plants in England and Wales in a repeat of stoppages early this year.

It is a sensitive issue in a country suffering rising unemployment. The strikes were not organised by unions, but the protesters claim they may spread. One striker at a plant in Wales said: “We are striking today because of our brothers around the country. Every site around the country is walking (out) because of foreign labour coming into the country. What is going to happen in another few years? There is going to be no work for us to go to.” Those fears are not being borne out by current statistics, however. Official figures show the number of workers from overseas going back home has soared in recent months. The number of eastern European migrants looking for work in the UK has halved compared to last year.More about: Immigration, Jobs, United Kingdom

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