Poles turn down free trip home
Homeless Polish men living in tents in Lincoln have turned down free flights to their homeland – because they think they can still find work.
The men were offered free tickets home by the Polish Consulate in Manchester after officials read about their plight following reports in the Echo.
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The Poles' makeshift campsite
The offer – which will also see them given new passports – would have brought to an end their stay on a squalid makeshift campsite on a riverside in Lincoln.
But two men there who have been out unemployed for months are now confident that, with new passports to prove their credentials, they will swiftly be able to find work. And none of them are claiming benefits.
Thomas, one of those living at the riverbank, said: "After this, I can move and find a job.
"It's not really difficult. Everybody is speaking about the recession, but I don't believe it."
Simon Bialek, vice consul at the consulate, is less confident about their prospects – and says the best thing for them to do is return home.
The consulate has been to visit the men at the riverbank to tell them that help is available.
Mr Bialek said that the Poles in Lincoln could be provided with bus tickets to Manchester, documentation, overnight accommodation and free plane tickets back to their homeland.
Alan Wiles, a businessman who has been bringing the men food, said he could not understand why the Poles would want to stay.
"I can't believe that living in Poland can possibly be worse than the circumstances they find themselves in now," he said.
For more on the consulate's offer to pay for the Poles to return home, see Monday's Echo.
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by unknown, north-west london
Tuesday, May 12 2009, 9:48AM
“you ale a a bunch of racist! nobody is asking to provide polish people with council flats, benefits, social services
but you already have been feeding muslims for years and EVEN they hate you! and try to separate from "real british"
that's ridiciolous
p.s. london is not english anymore”
by MJA, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Tuesday, March 10 2009, 11:48AM
“""Looks like lot of people have legally been put out of work by exporting jobs, but I do not know of anyone that has been put out of work because they were getting paid £6 per hour and someone has come along to do it for £5 (unless they are self employed that is). ""
And there is Stephen`s point AC...Unless you have been involved in agricuture and the many jobs involved, packhouse et al, you probably don`t know anyone...At least you seem to recognise the problems caused for local labour by self employed contracts for migrants...It sounds very simple, and it is...A pay cut, or no job..Single status migrants can get by..Local workers with 2 kids, maybe a mortgage, and all the related bills, don`t stand a chance.....”
by Anonymous Coward, Lincoln
Tuesday, March 10 2009, 11:28AM
“"Jonny. No offence matey but you havent yet lost your job to cheaper foreign labour. "
This is interesting - how did it happen as it illegal? I hope you took the company in question to court for compensation for breach of contract.
This kind of thing has been going on for years. Look at the 1970's when all the car plants closed due to cheaper and more reliable Japenease cars. Again British jobs going with gains in Japan.
Then people taking holidays abroad due to the better weather, forcing are hard working Skegness entertainment industry to lay of British workers with the jobs going to foriegn ones.
More recently all the call centres that have shut up operations in the UK, opening up news ones in cheaper labour countries such as India. UK jobs exported to India here.
Looks like lot of people have legally been put out of work by exporting jobs, but I do not know of anyone that has been put out of work because they were getting paid £6 per hour and someone has come along to do it for £5 (unless they are self employed that is).”
by MJA, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Tuesday, March 10 2009, 11:12AM
“I`ll tell you something that may suprise you jonny.. In the mid 70s as a young man i joined the local Labour party here in Lincoln. I was a member, active at times, until the early 90s..With age comes the realisation, that NO individual or group, hold a monopoly on common sense. This subject just indicates furher the long lingering death of something that is no longer as common as it was...
"" If a man at 50yrs has the same opinions he had at 20yrs, he has obviously had a wasted life""..Don`t know who said it, but my life has not been wasted...
I hope that will maybe help you down the road.....”
by Jonny, Lincoln
Tuesday, March 10 2009, 10:25AM
“I had to compete with foreign nationals to get my job. Rather than complain they are from another country, I worked harder to build up my experience and knowledge and have a better job than I previously aimed for. Still glad you felt able to say whether I was going to lose my job or not without actually knowing the full facts surrounding that matter and merely assumed things. Sounds like another subject matter. Good point on the cost of bread in Germany leading to the rise of Hitler. I think there may have been a few other factors though.”