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Refinery strikes spread across UK Refinery strikes spread across UK
(30 minutes later)
Strikes have been breaking out across the UK in support of a mass walkout by energy workers in Lincolnshire angry at the use of foreign workers.Strikes have been breaking out across the UK in support of a mass walkout by energy workers in Lincolnshire angry at the use of foreign workers.
Hundreds gathered for the third day of the original strike at Lindsey Oil Refinery after owner Total gave a £200m contract to an Italian firm.Hundreds gathered for the third day of the original strike at Lindsey Oil Refinery after owner Total gave a £200m contract to an Italian firm.
They have been joined by strikers in Grangemouth, in central Scotland, Aberthaw, in South Wales, and Teesside. They have been joined by hundreds of strikers in Scotland, Wales and other parts of England.
"Sympathy strikes... are spreading rapidly," said the BBC's Danny Savage. Total said there would be no "direct redundancies" as a result of the deal.
The action has also spread to the St Fergus gas terminal near Peterhead, north east Scotland, where 100 workers have downed tools. The firm added that staff employed by the Italian company IREM would be paid the same as existing contractors on the project. More than 300 of its workers have been brought in to do the work.
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said the angry workers were "entitled to an answer". Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said the angry British workers were "entitled to an answer". We want fairness. We want the rights of our members to have the opportunity to be employed Bernard McAuley, Unite class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5987&edition=1">Send us your comments
'PM's promise' Total bosses said the Italian firm IREM, which employs a specialist workforce, had won the contract to construct the new HDS-3 unit at the Lindsey plant, after a "fair" tendering process.
Total bosses said the Italian firm IREM, which employs a specialist workforce, had won the contract to construct the new HDS-3 unit at the Lindsey plant, after a tendering process. Unite regional officer Bernard McAuley told Friday's rally in Lincolnshire: "There is sufficient unemployed skilled labour wanting the right to work on that site and they are demanding the right to work on that site."
More than 300 of the Italian firm's workers have been brought in to do the work. He said the leaders of Unite and the GMB had urged the prime minister to call an urgent meeting with the heads of industry in the engineering and construction industry.
Total said there would be "no direct redundancies" at the refinery at North Killingholme as a result of the contract for the Italian company. It's been a kettle ready to boil and the lid has blown off now Kenny, protester class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5987&edition=1">Send us your comments "We want fairness. We want the rights of our members to have the opportunity to be employed, not just on this job but on all jobs around the United Kingdom."
Hundreds of striking workers held a mass meeting at the Lincolnshire refinery on Friday. Hundreds of striking workers had attended a mass meeting at the Lincolnshire refinery, as solidarity action broke out across the country.
Workers at the Grangemouth Oil Refinery walked out in solidarity with the Lincolnshire strikers, with union officials saying up to 800 staff - who work for BP and INEOS - had agreed the move at a meeting. • Workers at Grangemouth Oil Refinery, in central Scotland, walked out in solidarity with the Lincolnshire strikers. Union officials said up to 800 staff - who work for BP and INEOS - had agreed the move at a meeting.
South Wales Police are attending a protest at Aberthaw Power Station, which organisers said involved around 50 people peacefully rallying outside the main gate. • South Wales Police attended a protest at Aberthaw Power Station, which organisers said involved around 50 people peacefully rallying outside the main gate.
Meanwhile up to 600 demonstrators gathered outside chemical and steel plants on Teesside in support of the strike. • About 550 demonstrators gathered outside chemical and steel plants on Teesside in support of the strike.
Cleveland Police confirmed that around 400 demonstrators were involved in a protest at all four gates of the former ICI complex at Wilton on Teesside. • Cleveland Police confirmed that around 400 demonstrators were involved in a protest at the gates of the former ICI complex at Wilton on Teesside. About 150 people assembled outside the Corus steel plant near Redcar.
And up to 200 people have gathered outside the Corus steel plant near Redcar. • The action spread to the St Fergus gas terminal near Peterhead, north east Scotland, where 100 workers have downed tools.
• Some 300 contractors walked out from Fiddlers Ferry power station, on the banks of the River Mersey at Warrington, Cheshire, on Friday. The staff will return to work on Monday.
• GMB union stewards at the South Hook Liquified Natural Gas terminal in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, said around 1,000 workers walked out on Friday. The one-off action did not involve a protest at the site, they added.
On Thursday workers at Longannet Power Station in Fife, plus staff at BP's Dimlington gas terminal in East Yorkshire and its chemical manufacturing plant in Saltend, Hull, also walked out in support of the Lincoldnshire workers.The walkouts began in Lincolnshire and have reached Wales and ScotlandOn Thursday workers at Longannet Power Station in Fife, plus staff at BP's Dimlington gas terminal in East Yorkshire and its chemical manufacturing plant in Saltend, Hull, also walked out in support of the Lincoldnshire workers.The walkouts began in Lincolnshire and have reached Wales and Scotland
Hundreds of contract workers at the Conoco Phillips oil refinery - neighbour to the Lindsey site - also took part on Thursday.Hundreds of contract workers at the Conoco Phillips oil refinery - neighbour to the Lindsey site - also took part on Thursday.
Speaking on Friday from Wilton, on Teesside, one protester called George urged the prime minister to take action:Speaking on Friday from Wilton, on Teesside, one protester called George urged the prime minister to take action:
"All we want is for Gordon Brown to fulfil his promise. He said British jobs for British workers.""All we want is for Gordon Brown to fulfil his promise. He said British jobs for British workers."
A protester at the Lincolnshire plant, called Kenny, said British workers should have priority of access to jobs.A protester at the Lincolnshire plant, called Kenny, said British workers should have priority of access to jobs.
He said the issue was a growing one for many industries.He said the issue was a growing one for many industries.
"It's been a kettle ready to boil and the lid has blown off now.""It's been a kettle ready to boil and the lid has blown off now."
When asked about the growing action, Gordon Brown - speaking from the World Economic Forum in Davos - said he "understood" people's worries.When asked about the growing action, Gordon Brown - speaking from the World Economic Forum in Davos - said he "understood" people's worries.
He said the government was doing "everything we can" to shore up the economy as well as help individuals back into work.He said the government was doing "everything we can" to shore up the economy as well as help individuals back into work.
'Moral indignation''Moral indignation'
HAVE YOUR SAY Where is the humanity in ruining someone's local environment by building a massive industrial refinery and then bringing in people from around the world to work there when the local people need and want the jobs ? Ben Platt, LiverpoolSend us your comments
Joint leader of the Unite union, Derek Simpson, said workers felt powerless.Joint leader of the Unite union, Derek Simpson, said workers felt powerless.
"You can understand the moral indignation as well as the industrial concern that people are expected to have skills, but be unemployed and watch foreign workers [be employed] who have got more privilege because they're not barred from these contracts."You can understand the moral indignation as well as the industrial concern that people are expected to have skills, but be unemployed and watch foreign workers [be employed] who have got more privilege because they're not barred from these contracts.
"The only role that we have is to pay the electric bills from the power stations that they build. No-one can stand aside and say that that is any way justified.""The only role that we have is to pay the electric bills from the power stations that they build. No-one can stand aside and say that that is any way justified."
In a statement, Total said: "We recognise the concerns of contractors but it is important to note that there will be no direct redundancies as a result of this contract being awarded. In a statement, Total said it "recognised" the concerns of contractors.
"We have been a major local employer for 40 years and have always enjoyed a good relationship with our staff and contractors. "It is important to note that we have been a major local employer for 40 years with 550 permanent staff employed at the refinery.
"We are disappointed they have taken this action and we hope the situation will be resolved as soon as possible and the contractors return to work." "There are also between 200 and 1,000 contractors working at the refinery, the vast majority of which work for UK companies employing local people."
The HDS-3 unit affected is separate to the main refinery. Total said the action has not affected normal operations.