EU - Exploiting Us!

The tabloid newspaper The Sun has now had its say on the broader Staythorpe and Immingham disputes, read here. The significant questions from the House of Commons statement on the strikes are quoted below from Hansard, linked here: Mr. Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby) (Lab): Does my right hon. Friend accept that this is not an attack on the mobility of labour in the EU, but an objection to the fact that one contractor—the Italian contractor—is bringing in its entire work force of several hundred people for one particular contract? This is a plea: in all the other jobs that will come into being with the contract for the closure and reconstruction of the Lindsey oil refinery, preference should be given to British workers, and to local workers, in an area of high unemployment where the skills are available. As well as sending in ACAS, should not my right hon. Friend be convening a meeting in London of the big oil companies, contractors and unions to allay the workers’ fears for British jobs and to see that the posting of workers directive is working properly? ============ Reply========== Kate Hoey (Vauxhall) (Lab): Will the Minister use this opportunity to dissociate himself from the remarks made on this morning’s “Today” programme by the Secretary of State, who made what I thought was a rather silly comment implying that the answer to all the workers who are worried because they are not getting these jobs was for them to go off and get a job abroad? ============Reply============ Mr. Ian McCartney (Makerfield) (Lab): Will my right hon. Friend ensure that ACAS talks not just to Total, but to Alstom, the subcontracting company, which subcontracts again to another company? It is that company that is causing the problem; it has a record of trying to breach the national agreement in respect of agency workers. That loophole was closed through the agency workers directive, and it is critical in this situation that ACAS looks into what is happening with Alstom as well as with Total....... ============Reply============= John Mason (Glasgow, East) (SNP): It seems to me that much of this depends on Total’s statement and what has been said by its subcontractors. Are we expecting ACAS to audit the statement, or should other parties do it? ============Reply============

Mr. William Cash (Stone) (Con): The Minister may know that this morning, on a television programme, Derek Simpson said that the Prime Minister had had meetings regarding the three rulings of the European Court only about a month ago, and that some action was expected as a result of those discussions. He added, in reply to a question, that it appeared that that action had been dropped. Can the Minister tell us what action was proposed, and whether it was in line with what Alan Johnson said on the programme yesterday?

Will the Minister also ensure that if it is impossible to overcome the European Court rulings—which we all know is the case—we will legislate in the House of Commons to ensure that we provide proper and fair treatment for the workers and trade unions of this country?

==============Reply========= Mr. Frank Field (Birkenhead) (Lab): Will the Minister allow me to express my dismay at the way in which he has interpreted the law, which allows European companies to win contracts here and to put up restrictive barriers against employing local people? Can he assure the House that his interpretation is shared by the German, French and Italian Governments? Mr. McFadden: All the countries are signed up to the European posted workers directive. It is legal under the directive for a company to bid for work and to use its permanent employees as part of the fulfilment of that contract. That is not just a British right; it is part of the directive. (Other replies were not worth quoting)