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Energy protest grows in Scotland Energy protest grows in Scotland
(9 minutes later)
Hundreds of workers at the giant crude oil refinery at Grangemouth have walked out as part of an escalating UK-wide dispute over the use of foreign labour.Hundreds of workers at the giant crude oil refinery at Grangemouth have walked out as part of an escalating UK-wide dispute over the use of foreign labour.
The Unite trade union said contractors at six other Scottish sites were also involved in industrial action.The Unite trade union said contractors at six other Scottish sites were also involved in industrial action.
Workers have downed tools at Scottish Power's Longannet and Cockenzie power stations as well as at Shell's St Fergus gas plant in Aberdeenshire.Workers have downed tools at Scottish Power's Longannet and Cockenzie power stations as well as at Shell's St Fergus gas plant in Aberdeenshire.
The dispute began at the Lindsey Oil Refinery in North Lincolnshire.The dispute began at the Lindsey Oil Refinery in North Lincolnshire.
Workers there walked out after an Italian firm was awarded a construction contract which unions said should have gone to British workers.Workers there walked out after an Italian firm was awarded a construction contract which unions said should have gone to British workers.
The Unite trade union said up to 800 contractors had downed tools at Grangemouth while about 500 have walked out at power stations in Longannet, Fife and Cockenzie. The Unite trade union said up to 800 contractors had downed tools at Grangemouth while about 500 have walked out at power stations in Longannet in Fife and Cockenzie.
The argument is not against foreign workers, it's against foreign companies discriminating against British labour Bobby BuirdsUnite More than 100 workers have also stopped work at Cockenzie power station, and about 80 stopped work at British Energy's Torness facility. The argument is not against foreign workers, it's against foreign companies discriminating against British labour Bobby BuirdsUnite
At the Shell St Fergus gas processing facility in Aberdeenshire, there are reports that 150 workers have walked out, while about 100 have stopped work at ExxonMobil's petrochemicals plant at Mossmoran in Fife along with colleagues at the Shell plant at Mossmoran. Scottish Power said the walkout did not affect operations at either of the sites and that it was meeting senior members of all contractors to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
Shell have said about 180 contractors at the St Fergus gas terminal at Peterhead have stopped work, while at British Energy's Torness facility about 80 workers have downed tools.
About 100 have also stopped work at ExxonMobil's petrochemicals plant at Mossmoran in Fife along with colleagues at the Shell plant at Mossmoran.
Speaking from Grangemouth, Bobby Buirds of the Unite union, said: "The argument is not against foreign workers, it's against foreign companies discriminating against British labour.Speaking from Grangemouth, Bobby Buirds of the Unite union, said: "The argument is not against foreign workers, it's against foreign companies discriminating against British labour.
"If the job of these mechanical contractors at Ineos finishes and they try and get jobs down south, the jobs are already occupied by foreign labour and their opportunities are decreasing."If the job of these mechanical contractors at Ineos finishes and they try and get jobs down south, the jobs are already occupied by foreign labour and their opportunities are decreasing.
"This is a fight for work. It is a fight for the right to work in our own country. It is not a racist argument at all.""This is a fight for work. It is a fight for the right to work in our own country. It is not a racist argument at all."
'Pipeline system''Pipeline system'
A spokesman for INEOS, which runs the Grangemouth plant, said those involved in the walkout were NAECI (National Agreement for Engineering and Construction Industry) workers.A spokesman for INEOS, which runs the Grangemouth plant, said those involved in the walkout were NAECI (National Agreement for Engineering and Construction Industry) workers.
In a statement, he said: "The plants at Grangemouth continue to operate normally and contractor safety cover has been agreed.In a statement, he said: "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."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.""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."
The Grangemouth walk-out included about 100 workers with contractors employed by BP.The Grangemouth walk-out included about 100 workers with contractors employed by BP.
They work at the Kinneil terminal - part of the Grangemouth complex where North Sea oil from the Forties pipeline system comes ashore.They work at the Kinneil terminal - part of the Grangemouth complex where North Sea oil from the Forties pipeline system comes ashore.
A BP spokesman said: "The workers are not involved in day-to-day operations and the Forties pipeline system will continue to operate as normal."A BP spokesman said: "The workers are not involved in day-to-day operations and the Forties pipeline system will continue to operate as normal."