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Boris Johnson slammed by unions for turning to foreign HGV drivers
Daily Telegraph (UK) ^ | 26 September 2021 • 9:36pm | Ben Riley-Smith

Posted on 09/27/2021 11:14:09 AM PDT by Olog-hai

Trade unions have criticized Boris Johnson for leaning on foreign labour to plug holes in the HGV driver shortage, saying it amounts to “going backwards”.

The Prime Minister backtracked on an initial reluctance to issue new visas to HGV drivers based overseas, announcing that 5,000 visas would be approved.

Critics said it backtracked on the Johnson government’s drive after the UK left the European Union to focus on filling job shortages with British workers.

However, Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, criticized the Government for not going far enough, indicating he would back the approval of 100,000 visas for overseas HGV drivers.

Euroskeptics have long argued that Brexit, which ended the “freedom of movement” rights that allowed Europeans to move to the UK, would lead to more job opportunities for Britons. …

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Local News
KEYWORDS: eussr; fourthreich; johnson; uk
UK maximum gross vehicle weight for “heavy goods vehicles” (tractor trailers) appears to be just over 70,000 lbs, which is five tons less than the max for US vehicles of similar capacity.
1 posted on 09/27/2021 11:14:09 AM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: Olog-hai

I wonder if the trade unions still make it difficult to hire Britons when they are definitely needed?


2 posted on 09/27/2021 11:20:26 AM PDT by OttawaFreeper ("The Gardens was founded by men-sportsmen-who fought for their country" Conn Smythe, 1966 )
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To: Olog-hai

Meanwhile, Hochul in NYS is saying she’ll do the same to replace refusenik heathcare professionals.

What a coinkydink!


3 posted on 09/27/2021 11:21:33 AM PDT by mewzilla (Those aren't masks. They're muzzles. )
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To: Olog-hai

Is it likely that anyone qualified would be willing to come on a 3-month contract, when their is a shortage of drivers in their country? They are already making plenty of money, and sleeping in their own bed.


4 posted on 09/27/2021 11:29:02 AM PDT by proxy_user
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To: Olog-hai

One of my friends is a former HGV driver. Many in the industry have been leaving in droves because haulage firms since Brexit have been acting like nothing has changed and they can still pay their drivers peanuts to work long hours and their employees will just take it. They have failed to adapt to the job market and that is why there is a driver shortage.

Naturally, the Labour party being the party of privilaged xenophilic university educated wokists, is fully behind importing more cheap foreign drivers instead of paying British drivers properly.


5 posted on 09/28/2021 1:50:24 AM PDT by sinsofsolarempirefan
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To: sinsofsolarempirefan

Yes; Labour have been running with this, particularly since the Red Tories are indistinguishable and not offering the alternative.


6 posted on 09/28/2021 1:54:12 AM PDT by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is going to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
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