[Marxism] Challenging claim UK oil strikes are xenophobic (from 'Guardian')

[Lenin's Tomb]

On Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 4:09 AM, Fred Feldman <ffeldman at bellatlantic.net>wrote:

> Our flexible friendsThe real theme of these strikes is not xenophobia but
> outrage at UK and EU rules designed to keep labour cheap and weakComments


This is an attractive argument, of course.  It is one that is being pushed
by the TUC, as well as by many on the Labour left, and it is one that I
would very much like to believe was accurate (indeed, until I spoke to a
couple of people who had visited the picket lines, I *did* believe it).  If
it were right, then we would be seeing the first shoots of resistance to the
recession, and it would be an excellent retort to those who said that
British workers were inherently conservative and so on.

However, there are a few things to get right about this strike.  The
central, more or less official, slogan is *British jobs for British
workers*.  This is a slogan that originated with the fascist right.  The
National Front made it a rallying cry during the recessions of the 1970s.
It was appropriated by Gordon Brown in 2007, and it is now being
regurgitated by union shop stewards who are mouthing off about "the
victimisation of the British worker".  Look at all the images of the
strikers, and you will see this slogan, alongside variants such as 'British
Workers 1st', surrounded by a load of union jacks - there isn't a single
socialist slogan, placard or banner.  The only way in which the strike could
win at this time would be if the Italian workers were sacked.  Not all of
those on strike accept the nationalist argument, and there are those who are
trying to move it in a different direction, but it is unfortunately the main
argument of the strikers, who are treating the Italian workers as "scabs" -
this is completely different to the past approach of the unions, which was
to try and form links and solidarity with migrant workers.

It is because of this that the right-wing press and the BNP are salivating
over this action.  BNP activists are crawling all over the picket lines,
much to the alarm of many of the trade unionists who are strongly
anti-fascist.  Now it seems that there is to be a lobby of parliament to
demand "British jobs for British workers".  The most right-wing New Labour
MPs are also trying to make capital out of it (see Frank Field's rancid
polemic here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1133122/FRANK-FIELD-You-promised-British-jobs-British-workers-Gordon--make-happen.html
).

It is important to bear in mind that the Unite union, where there is a
leadership contest due between Derek Simpson and left-wing challenger Jerry
Hicks, has recently taken a turn toward 'protectionism' in response to the
recession.  Unite's tacit support for this action and (they can't openly
support it because of Tory anti-union laws) could be seen as in part a way
for Simpson to out-manoeuvre his rival, and as a logical corollary of their
current 'protectionist' stance.  But whatever the reason for it, they are
playing with fire.