English vs. Polish hostility

I am Polish but can sympathize with you from a certain point of view especially on the part of Polish people blaming everything on English racism........total ********, if 600,000 foreigners came to Poland there would be similar things said by Poles about the foreigners compared to what some Brits are saying about Poles........I don't think in general UK people care if Poles come or not, but 600,000 that quick is hard to handle economically and socially........I think before Polish accession into the EU the UK underestimated how many would come actually come.......If they estimated 600,000 I assure you that you would of set new eu member limits like the rest of the EU, like France, we cannot work freely there until 2011 i believe..........but from a Polish perspective you have to understand that these people have no choice, it isnt a choice, no one wants to be poor.........you cannot blame Poles for wanting a better life, if you have a problem you should vote otherwise in your elections, and that tone has been heard as your government set limits on new members' bulgaria and romania right?

i really dont know how to help you in this respect, i think you will just have to accept it for the time being as you cannot undo something like this........Poles first choice will be Poland, if the economy was better they wouldnt have moved at all.......Poland's economy will improve eventually so i can see a good percentage of these people moving back, not all of course, but some if not all definately get home sick...........

two classes of people who won't be going back to poland in a hurry, are the professional people who have secured good jobs and conditions and the ones who are in tune with the welfare system and unemployment benefits.

A lot of poles returning home will find it difficult to readapt to the polish way of life, hence will want to return back to the UK.

yes especially if they are with young children who go through school in the UK.........some people will want to stay forever, can't blame them right.........but the goal should be improving Poland to the point where people do not want to leave, with eu funds this is totally possible........

Guess not then... huh?

I am a Pole. I simpathize with the Brits. Why should the English not have a homeland for themselves. And why should the Poles have to leave to make a living. I hope 80% or more of the Polish return. Poland needs them.

Poland needs the people that are currently getting a good education / job skills in the UK back. Maybe that's their plan ...no? I think it's great they're given the opportunity to acquire these skills to bring back.

What skills? Skills of cleaning tiolets and serving the beer? We have 15% unemployment btw and 75% of wages are no more than 1500zloty. Why would they like to come back? I dont want them back.

BTW they are making secret plan there called sink the island


Since when we need them? Ary you part of goverment?

Cleaning toilets...maybe you're thinking of students?? I know PL people to do a lot of different jobs in the UK....and the education that they'll get can certainly be beneficial.

Oh come on. 80% abroad are cleaning etc. Some ppl are working in offices but is about 20% or so.

But these are mostly students doing this, no?

Greetings everybody.

This subject interests me enough to make my first post on this forum.

Amongst the general population in the UK the Poles are seen, quite rightly in my view, as hardworking and entrepreneurial. The fact that they are white and Christian also helps. However at the present time there is much concern in the UK about the scale of recent immigration and the nature of multi-culturism. Guest workers should acknowledge that the recent influx of economic migrants is the greatest in British history. All in all the inhabitants of these islands can be proud of how they’ve reacted to this situation. I’m a little wary of describing this reaction as an example of natural British tolerance because I know that if 600,000 non white, non Christian work seekers arrived in such a short period of time the reaction would be totally different.

I am absolutely convinced however that there is a strong feeling of resentment from those who have not benefited from the economic improvements of the last ten years. This is a different issue from the more general unease about the scale of recent immigration. Some parts of the country still have comparatively high unemployment figures and many former working class families still rely on benefits to ease the burden of everyday life. In some areas the erosion of employment in older industries has inevitably led to a “lost” generation of formally skilled workers who have not been able to take advantage of other opportunities. This underclass feels that these new arrivals have further reduced their own life chances. Recent statistics would seem to support this view. Likewise I would imagine that many older residents of Poland who lost out economically as result of the end of communism feel resentment towards those who benefited economically as a result of the changes.

This lost generation, in both Poland and Britain, are not lazy good for nothings or benefit scroungers; they are quite simply those who have lost out as a result of wider economic and political changes. They were unable to ride the changes and therefore have lost out on the chance of future prosperity.

To all those Poles who have come here to work I wish you the very best. This country needs your energy, your mobility, your sense of adventure, and your high standards of education.

The attitudes of those who display resentment I abhor- but I do understand why it exists. So please bear in mind that many of those Brits who may display resentment towards you may well be the mirror image of the ex coalminer in Walbrzych, the ex mill worker in Lodz, or the former PGR worker in Western Pomerania. They could well be your mother or father, your wife or husband.

Interestingly enough, on a recent visit to Poland I also noticed an increasing resentment against guest workers from the Ukraine. Strangely enough the Polish government now uses the same terminology as ours in explaining the need for this influx – “certain traditionally low paid industries require labour and the home population are no longer willing or able to provide this”.

Ah well, welcome to the global economy. It’s going to be bumpy ride!

Only a small point. But: Polish guest workers. Are British in Poland guest workers or expats.

Wroclaw,

Hi,

I think that that the British working in Poland are probably better classed as expats.

Personally I prefer to use the term guest workers because to me it sounds better than the german phrase "gastarbeiter" but essentially its the same thing. The Turks, Portuguese and Spaniards have all previously made the same journey as the Poles do today. I also hope that the Poles are gracious enough to respect the economic plights of the Moldavians, Ukrainians and others from further east who will surely fill the void.

I think the difference is that most Brits working in Poland have done so not from economic necessity.

The term expats does worry me a little as I still associate it with an old fashioned insular and slightly racist mentality. Is there another term which more accurately reflects the present reality?

if 600,000 people landed in poland, quests of another country. I wonder what the reaction of the polish people would be, I hazard a quess it would contain some positive and a lot of negative aspects.

In Ireland, they now estimate there are 200,000 Polish people, if the population is 4.5 million, and say half are economically active then Polish people make up 10 percent of the workforce.

How would Poland react/cope with an influx of 1.7 million immigrant workers in a little over two years?

Yeah, puts it in perspective !!!

If that was the case, then it begs the question, why don't the polsih people stay in poland and build there own country.
I tend to believe that polish people see no future in there own country and have opted for better prospects.

come on lef.you guys,have built up your fortunes far from england too:)

they were different times, my parents came to oz in the late 40's, where there was a shortage of labour ie no unemployment. I might also add that you didn't make your fortune overnight, it took a lot of luck and hard work.

I personally think that polish people should be more grateful to the english for accepting them with open arms. As I mentioned in my previous post, I don't understand why poles don't opt for oz as skilled labour is in demand especially in western australia (money is excellent) Just think you could be here watching the cricket enjoying a cold beer and seeing the poms being thrashed!

At the end of the day the poles who return home will end up working for a couple of thousand zlotes a month and return to a country that hasn't changed much. Won't that be a shock to the system

the same situation as in the uk now.there is only about 4% of unemployment in england now.the only people who don't find a job here are complete loosers,drunkards,drug addicts,asylum seekers and only some who genuinely can't find a job.


i've been here on and off for 5 years and worked up to 90 hours a week is it not hard work lef?


i am very greatful but i think this bussines is profitable for both sides.i know that there are a lot of ignorant idiots in the uk who don't appreciate british hospitality but what can you do lef,kill them all?


money is not everything lef.going to oz would mean a huge change in our lives.england is closer and we feel here at home.however most of us will go back to poland sooner or later-it's easier to do it from the uk.


poland is a great country.it survived far worse things

That probally sums it all up, (I wonder if you change your opinion after returning to poland?)
I would like to return, but I have it good here, as they say in the classics "If your on a good thing stick to it"

My concern is that I wouldn't trust the infrastructure and inflationm may be a problem.

only time will tell. at the moment we are doing quite well.

The Polish immigrant problem seems to be a hit on this board. :) Personally I'm really tired of engaging in this discussion, but you are free to browse the forum and I’m sure you will find some interesting opinions on this subject. As for your plea, I'm sorry but there’s not much I or other polish users of this forum can do about it. Still appreciate the mild tone of your comment. :)


The same as any other nationality perhaps? :)

Do you think that Australians would behave different? :)

Now I fell like watching "Romper Stomper". :) "Pulling on the boots and tightening up the laces; Shaving their heads and their faces; There you have a skinhead, looking for a fight; Skinhead, skinhead, running through the night... :)


I will take your word for it. :)

I think the hostility has arisen due the numbers of Polish people living in the UK, I personally dont care as long as people work and abide by laws...and dont try and push in front of me when Im at the airport:)

I am confused by some of this. I am English and only here positive things about Polish people.

What? I read in 3/4 leading newspapers that in total polish claimed 45 million british pound as benefit in last two years.. so you mean 45 millions claimed by less then 100?

Are you mad or what?

read this post: https://polishforums.com/archives/2005-2009/uk-ireland/poles-claiming-state-benefit-cost-3814/

The English hate everyone:Polish or even Irish. Most of them are fat and lazy, so they think hard working Polish will take their jobs

Don't frighten me matyjasz, not everything you see in the movies is true:)


Been through all that, a lot of times it is spot the aussie when you go through the main street of Melbourne, the same will be in Poland one day, spot the pole in warsaw, you never know you will have pakistani's in the police force, indians driving trams, romanians running the crime gangs and english people cleaning the toilets.

With poland in the EU, it will never be the same again. R.I.P

Blood and Honour Poland are very active, the English C18 fanzine was printed in Poland.
The Polish skins are well connected with C18/Blood and honour in most countries and worldwide. There is tension between the Poles and the Germans, obviously. But English skins mix happily with the Polish boys. The football scene in Poland is rife with skins. And as for Romper Stomper it may not have been a mainstream release but it is out there. The is also the All Polish youth who are catholic skins and I'm sure there are trad skins but mostly they are bone heads.

Finelt the English do beleive they are the most superior nation on earth...and thats because they are. Australia thanks to the English we sent you all our chav's (hence Aussie's lack of culture). America well generally put that one down to the English. India, Africa etc etc.

Unfortunately we are all in a state of post-colonial comedown and denial of our crime.
The commonwealth are having their revenge by coming to live in the UK.

I don't have hostility towards the English. I do have a complaint about the Republican party. I think that they are Greedy Selfish and selfcentered people. Who want to make a buck off of anyone. They pretend to be moral people but when it comes to their money they seem to loose their morals or make you feel like you are taking advantage of them. I work hard and I don't like to be under appreciated.