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| Grangemouth joins energy dispute | Grangemouth joins energy dispute |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Staff at Scotland's only crude oil refinery have walked out as part of an escalating UK-wide dispute over the use of foreign workers. | Staff at Scotland's only crude oil refinery have walked out as part of an escalating UK-wide dispute over the use of foreign workers. |
| Union officials said up to 800 staff at Grangemouth, Falkirk, agreed at a meeting on Friday to stop working. | Union officials said up to 800 staff at Grangemouth, Falkirk, agreed at a meeting on Friday to stop working. |
| Staff at Fife's Longannet Power Station have already walked off their shifts. | Staff at Fife's Longannet Power Station have already walked off their shifts. |
| The dispute began at the Lindsey Oil Refinery, North Lincolnshire, after a construction contract was awarded to an Italian firm. | The dispute began at the Lindsey Oil Refinery, North Lincolnshire, after a construction contract was awarded to an Italian firm. |
| Unions said the contract should have been given to British workers. | Unions said the contract should have been given to British workers. |
| It is understood that the main group of contractors at the Mossmorran chemical plant in Fife have also walked out, and may set up a picket line later on Friday. | |
| The objection is foreign companies clearly stating they will not start British workers on the job. Kenny SmithGrangemouth worker Speaking from Grangemouth, Bobby Birds of the Unite union, said: "I am actually recalling all the shop stewards to a meeting this afternoon just to catch up with where we are, but we know there's thousands on strike down south. | The objection is foreign companies clearly stating they will not start British workers on the job. Kenny SmithGrangemouth worker Speaking from Grangemouth, Bobby Birds of the Unite union, said: "I am actually recalling all the shop stewards to a meeting this afternoon just to catch up with where we are, but we know there's thousands on strike down south. |
| "And these lads are in solidarity with their colleagues down south, so it's sympathy and support." | "And these lads are in solidarity with their colleagues down south, so it's sympathy and support." |
| Kenny Smith is one worker who has walked out at Grangemouth. He said they were not objecting to foreign workers being used. | Kenny Smith is one worker who has walked out at Grangemouth. He said they were not objecting to foreign workers being used. |
| He explained: "The objection is foreign companies clearly stating they will not start British workers on the job. We have no problems working with foreigners of any kind - we have Poles working here recently with us." | He explained: "The objection is foreign companies clearly stating they will not start British workers on the job. We have no problems working with foreigners of any kind - we have Poles working here recently with us." |
| A spokesman for INEOS, which runs the Grangemouth plant issued a statement. | |
| It said: "We can confirm that the contractor's shop steward has informed INEOS this morning that they are joining the dispute and have removed their labour from the Grangemouth site. | |
| "The plants at Grangemouth continue to operate normally and contractor safety cover has been agreed. | |
| "We are disappointed that the NAECI contactor population have chosen to walk out today especially as INEOS at Grangemouth has always worked the trade unions to ensure that local and UK labour are utilised on site. | |
| And, on the few occasions when it has been necessary, we have always agreed up front with the workforce the use of foreign labour as a top up." |