butchersapron said:
Loach is clearly saying that capital and the state exploits migrant or illegal workers and uses their desperation in order to undermine the conditions of existing workers - he's not arguing for tighter border controls or immigration policy - he's arguing for those two sections of the working class to organise togther. That's the whole point of the bloody film.
Good post- Loach perhaps ought to make clear how immigration controls make this working together harder (perhaps he does say this but wasn't quoted I don't know) but what he certainly doesn't do in the article is say that it's the fault of the immigrants or that we should have more immigration controls.
He calls for more trade union powers to stop bosses exploiting workers- nothing too wrong with that as far as I can see.
"Veteran director Ken Loach called for a repeal of anti-trade union laws and tighter health and safety controls in Britain as his latest film emerged as a leading contender for the top prize at the Venice film festival last night."
By the way John McDonnell MP I thought put it well in his letter to the Trade Union Conference Organsing Against Immigration Controls when he wrote:
"To the Trade Union Conference Against Immigration Controls,
31st March 2007, from John McDonnell MP
Dear conference
As many of you will know, my constituency Hayes and Harlington is
home to two of Britain 's immigration prisons, Colnbrook and
Harmondsworth. Here people who have committed no crime are locked up
before being deported, often to countries where their very lives are
in danger.
Migrants are not criminals but human beings who would contribute to
our society as any other citizens. I welcome and applaud this
conference because it is essential that migrants and other workers
join forces to support each other and fight for a society in which
no one is left behind.
Divided, employers will exploit undocumented workers and use them to
drive down wages and conditions for everyone else, disposing of them
the moment they are no longer needed. Together we can support each
other and build a mass movement that will deliver the changes we so
badly need.
Trade unions will never be strong enough to win the struggles we
face unless we embrace migrant workers regardless of their status.
We cannot expect migrant workers to support our struggles unless we
support theirs, fighting against the twin threats of detention and
deportation and refusing to cooperate with the immigration system in
reporting the undocumented, or cutting off services.
Ultimately our struggle is the same: for fair wages and conditions,
and a decent life in which we are all treated equally and with
dignity.
John McDonnell MP"
