Brown condemns strikes over foreign workers

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday condemned nationwide wildcat strikes over the use of foreign workers at a time of soaring unemployment, but unions warned more staff may down tools this week.

Industrial unrest is spreading across Europe, fuelled by a worsening economic downturn. Last week, French workers protested for more pay and job security while Greek farmers set up roadblocks, demanding compensation for low prices.

In Britain, mounting tension between the ruling Labour Party and unions that provide much of its funds and support is also a taste of what may lie ahead for Mr Brown's out-of-favour government as the recession bites, with an election due by May 2010.

"That's not the right thing to do," Mr Brown told BBC television when asked about last week's walkouts at energy plants across Britain. "It's not defensible."

The government has asked an independent mediator to look at whether skilled British workers were unfairly debarred from contract work at a refinery in eastern England owned by France's Total.

Thousands across Britain protested against the use of Portuguese and Italian workers at the site.