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July 10, 2005

Chinese Oil Rigs and Crews in Colorado

Shades of the Golden Horde? The hysteria continues into the 21st century:

"'Over the next couple of years, 10 Chinese [oil] rigs - and crews to operate at least half of those rigs - will be imported from China to the Rocky Mountain region of the U.S.,' said Bill Croyle, a partner in Western Energy Advisors."

In response, "Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., whose district includes some of...[Colorado's]...largest gas fields, is not happy about the trend.

'I am totally against the Chinese government running the jobs in our country,' Salazar said. 'With the Chinese government getting involved, it's not even a competitive business model. Outsourcing has already claimed millions of jobs. We cannot allow that to happen within our own borders.'"

The Pipefitters Union naturally offered to protect its turf and its membership. But is reported to have stated, incredibly, that "importing Chinese crews could raise issues much like the controversy raised in the 1800s when Chinese laborers were used to build most of the West's railroads."

After all, in the 19th century, violence against Chinese the western U.S. was commonplace. "Attacks began in the 1850s against Chinese gold miners and continued throughout the century. In 1871, for example, a white mob descended on Los Angeles's Chinatown. Fighting erupted and when it was over, 15 Chinese were found hanged. Six years later, arsonists attempted to burn down the entire Chinatown in Chico, California."

I have a good deal of trouble deciding whether this union utterance, if accurate, is simply a bald-faced assertion of labor unrest or a veiled threat at something even less enlightened.

UPDATE, July 11, 2005: The Washington Times carries the story.

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