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Energy protest grows in Scotland Energy protest grows in Scotland
(about 1 hour 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. Over 1,500 workers in Scotland are on strike 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. An estimated 700 workers at the giant crude oil refinery at Grangemouth have walked out while contractors at three power stations have also downed tools.
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 industrial action has so far spread to seven sites across Scotland.
The dispute began at the Lindsey Oil Refinery in North Lincolnshire. The dispute began after bosses at the Lindsey oil refinery in England brought in Italian and Portuguese contractors to work at the plant.
Workers there walked out after an Italian firm was awarded a construction contract which unions said should have gone to British workers. Union have said the jobs 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 in Fife and Cockenzie. In addition to the workers at Grangemouth's Ineos plant, about 500 have also walked out at Scottish 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 BuirdsUniteThe argument is not against foreign workers, it's against foreign companies discriminating against British labour Bobby BuirdsUnite
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. The company 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.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. About 100 have also stopped work at ExxonMobil's petrochemicals plant at Mossmorran in Fife along with colleagues at the Shell plant at Mossmorran.
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. SITES AFFECTED IN SCOTLAND Ineos in GrangemouthScottish Power plant at LongannetScottish Power plant at CockenzieShell plant at St Fergus PeterheadExxonMobil plant at MossmorranBritish Energy Torness plantShell plant at Mossmorran
"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."