I'll have to check the news for something about UK wildcatters, but perhaps "how it's done in the US" would be of interest:

Bailed-out banks sought foreign workers

Use of lower paid labor criticized by lawmakers, workers' advocates

The Associated Press
updated 1:02 p.m. CT, Sun., Feb. 1, 2009

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Major U.S. banks sought government permission to bring thousands of foreign workers into the country for high-paying jobs even as the system was melting down last year and Americans were getting laid off, according to an Associated Press review of visa applications.

The dozen banks now receiving the biggest rescue packages, totaling more than $150 billion, requested visas for more than 21,800 foreign workers over the past six years for positions that included senior vice presidents, corporate lawyers, junior investment analysts and human resources specialists. The average annual salary for those jobs was $90,721, nearly twice the median income for all American households.

As the economic collapse worsened last year — with huge numbers of bank employees laid off — the numbers of visas sought by the dozen banks in AP's analysis increased by nearly one-third, from 3,258 in the 2007 budget year to 4,163 in fiscal 2008.

...

[end qoute] (The article also gives some clues as to how the Visa'd workers are cheaper.)

Back to the discussion.

John