|
Author
|
Topic: The Polish Plumber and other unfortunate vilifications
|
kuri
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4202
|
posted 26 June 2005 11:07 AM
I thought this was a kind interesting reflection on French fears about European integration and unemployment.The 'Polish Plumber is an unlikely hero (NYTimes) 
quote:
"I'm staying in Poland," the man says, a set of strategically placed pipes in one hand, a metal-cutter in the other. "Lots of you should come."He is the "Polish plumber," a mythical figure who became a central actor in the debate in France over the European Union constitution, which was roundly rejected by French voters last month. Portrayed as a predator who would move to France and steal jobs by working for less pay, this "plumber" has come to personify French fears about the future. ... "It's ridiculous, truly bizarre to say Polish plumbers are dangerous for France," said Wieslaw Zieba, 55, who has worked in France as a plumber and electrician for 25 years. "Some of the things that have been said by political figures border on the xenophobic. This is a country that desperately needs more plumbers. But it's not a noble profession that everyone wants to follow. You have to clean up after flooding and unblock toilets." Indeed, according to the French plumbing union, there is a shortage of 6,000 plumbers, and there are only about 150 Polish plumbers in France.
Well I can't quite agree with the sentiments of Mr. Walesa in that article, I find the lack of solidarity with poorer member states among that richer member states really puzzling and disturbing. I'm not including every critique of the EU in this, just the vilification of poor workers rather than the policy makers who are failing workers in most member states. EU membership actually doesn't have too much correlation with illegal immigration or work. In fact, since the accession talks began taking place for the new members, I've heard that there's been an increase in Russian workers precisely because they aren't protected by EU citizenship. Le Pen has pulled a pretty good trick in making increasing numbers of working class French identify with him rather than with the more traditional leftist parties. De Villier's stereotypes, I'm afraid, only play into this dynamic.  While I doubt the attractive "Polish plumber" will sway those workers who've been duped by Le Pen (they are almost exclusively young males, as far I can tell), hopefully he'll persuade more people to see the Polish as humans rather than as simple job-thiefs. 
From: an employer more progressive than rabble.ca | Registered: Jun 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Email this thread to someone!
