The unofficial UK strikes around the rallying cry of “British jobs for British workers” have been of little surprise in Brussels. They are a replica of what has been occurring in several European countries, as far apart as Greece and Latvia, in recent months. In truth they reflect an undercurrent familiar across Europe for many years.

That they did not occur before in the UK is testament to the phenomenal growth in the UK economy for more than a decade. 700,000 Poles migrated to the UK in less than three years – it was not because they were in love with fish and chips, but because the UK had so many jobs that they were prepared to do.

Since its beginning in the 1950s, the European project has had a very real contradiction concerning the free movement of labour at its heart. In theory everyone supports the free movement of labour – ask member state and EU politicians and they will all stand up and swear allegiance to the principle… with fingers crossed behind their backs.

In practice, however, most member states introduce national law to prohibit free movement functioning properly. They make grand sweeping public political gestures and then hide behind the minutiae of bureaucratic rule. EU policy makers understand the very real domestic political pressure and turn a blind eye to such xenophobic national law making.

When Spain and Portugal joined the EU more than 25 years ago, several member states, including France, Italy and Germany, refused to allow Spanish and Portuguese workers access to their labour markets for a period of five to 10 years. With the addition of the eight former Eastern European communist countries in 2004, a similar second-class membership was agreed that makes a mockery of all that the EU stands for. The current Czech presidency of the EU has a goal of fast-tracking the removal of the restrictions to free movement. I know it is in their national self-interest, but I for one will be applauding any progress they make.

It is unsurprising that an Italian subcontractor should use Italian labour. European attempts to impose host country terms and conditions through the Posting of Workers Directive have little or no impact in the UK, where collective agreements are neither generally applicable nor legally enforceable.

However, it is entirely probable that the current recession will lead to further attempts to amend the posted workers directive and introduce further protectionist employment measures. The European Commission is already taking soundings at a political level and, in the desire to “be seen to do something in response to the economic crisis”, reviewing the directive seems to be the minimum step.

The UK was at the vanguard of those member states arguing to ensure that the single market became a reality. Companies can now compete across Europe and choose their workforce.

Without strong UK support there is a real danger that protectionism and xenophobia will be the drivers of future European employment legislation. Such a move would be a disaster and nothing short of a real nail in the coffin for the future of Europe. That any UK government would initiate such legislative action within Europe would be unforgivable.