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| Nuclear workers join strikes wave | Nuclear workers join strikes wave |
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| Contractors at two nuclear plants have walked out in support of protests over the use of foreign labour, that sparked unofficial strikes across the UK. | Contractors at two nuclear plants have walked out in support of protests over the use of foreign labour, that sparked unofficial strikes across the UK. |
| The walk-outs at Sellafield and Heysham came as talks were set to start over the dispute, which began at Lindsey oil refinery in Lincolnshire. | The walk-outs at Sellafield and Heysham came as talks were set to start over the dispute, which began at Lindsey oil refinery in Lincolnshire. |
| Workers at Grangemouth oil refinery and power stations in Longannet and Staythorpe, have also walked out. | Workers at Grangemouth oil refinery and power stations in Longannet and Staythorpe, have also walked out. |
| Lord Mandelson had urged workers to call off planned "sympathy strikes". | Lord Mandelson had urged workers to call off planned "sympathy strikes". |
| Total, which owns the Lindsey site, has insisted it is not discriminating against British workers. | Total, which owns the Lindsey site, has insisted it is not discriminating against British workers. |
| Its managers will meet sub-contractors and union leaders for talks in Scunthorpe. | Its managers will meet sub-contractors and union leaders for talks in Scunthorpe. |
| 'Transparency' | 'Transparency' |
| Thousands walked out last week in a series of unofficial strikes around the UK to show solidarity with workers protesting at the use of Italian and Portuguese labour at the Lindsey refinery. | Thousands walked out last week in a series of unofficial strikes around the UK to show solidarity with workers protesting at the use of Italian and Portuguese labour at the Lindsey refinery. |
| At dawn on Monday about 300 protesters gathered at the North Lincolnshire refinery's terminal gates. | At dawn on Monday about 300 protesters gathered at the North Lincolnshire refinery's terminal gates. |
| The atrocious weather in some parts could affect the number of workers joining the action, but unions said they expected widespread action. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | The atrocious weather in some parts could affect the number of workers joining the action, but unions said they expected widespread action. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| About 600 mechanical contractors met in a car park at Sellafield, in Cumbria, early on Monday to discuss whether to take industrial action. | About 600 mechanical contractors met in a car park at Sellafield, in Cumbria, early on Monday to discuss whether to take industrial action. |
| They left the site shortly afterwards in a 24-hour walk-out. | They left the site shortly afterwards in a 24-hour walk-out. |
| Striker and GMB convener Willie Doggert, said: "All we want is a level playing field, it's not just about foreign workers, we need jobs to be advertised with transparency so that everybody gets a far crack of the whip at getting them." | Striker and GMB convener Willie Doggert, said: "All we want is a level playing field, it's not just about foreign workers, we need jobs to be advertised with transparency so that everybody gets a far crack of the whip at getting them." |
| So far contractors at Longannet have voted to stay out on strike for 24 hours and return to hold another mass meeting at 0730 GMT on Tuesday. | So far contractors at Longannet have voted to stay out on strike for 24 hours and return to hold another mass meeting at 0730 GMT on Tuesday. |
| And about 700 contractors at the Grangemouth oil refinery in central Scotland, who took unofficial action on Friday, walked out again on Monday but decided they would return to work on Tuesday. | And about 700 contractors at the Grangemouth oil refinery in central Scotland, who took unofficial action on Friday, walked out again on Monday but decided they would return to work on Tuesday. |
| The action at the plant followed a mass meeting of staff, one of several taking place across Scotland on Monday. | The action at the plant followed a mass meeting of staff, one of several taking place across Scotland on Monday. |
| More than 1,500 workers in Scotland walked out on Friday over the use of foreign workers. | More than 1,500 workers in Scotland walked out on Friday over the use of foreign workers. |
| 'Very determined' | 'Very determined' |
| Speaking from Total's Linsey refinery in Killingholme, national officer from the union Unite, Bernard McAulay, said he was going in for talks with the owner and the sub-contracting company Jacobs on Monday morning. | Speaking from Total's Linsey refinery in Killingholme, national officer from the union Unite, Bernard McAulay, said he was going in for talks with the owner and the sub-contracting company Jacobs on Monday morning. |
| Mr McAulay said he hoped for a resolution but did not know what was on the agenda. | Mr McAulay said he hoped for a resolution but did not know what was on the agenda. |
| He said: "These men are very determined, they want the opportunity to work." | He said: "These men are very determined, they want the opportunity to work." |
| The government has said it might challenge EU law to stop cheap foreign labour "undercutting" British workers. | The government has said it might challenge EU law to stop cheap foreign labour "undercutting" British workers. |
| It said European Court of Justice rulings had "undermined" protections. | It said European Court of Justice rulings had "undermined" protections. |
| Changing EU law would need the agreement of other member states and could take years to get through. | Changing EU law would need the agreement of other member states and could take years to get through. |
| 'Undermined' | 'Undermined' |
| Health Secretary Alan Johnson, a former trade union leader, has said that if workers were being brought to the UK on worse terms and conditions to get jobs ahead of British workers, "that would be wrong". | Health Secretary Alan Johnson, a former trade union leader, has said that if workers were being brought to the UK on worse terms and conditions to get jobs ahead of British workers, "that would be wrong". |
| He said both the government and trade unions strongly backed EU laws on the free movement of labour but that some of the protections in EU law may have been undermined by recent judgements in the European Court of Justice. | He said both the government and trade unions strongly backed EU laws on the free movement of labour but that some of the protections in EU law may have been undermined by recent judgements in the European Court of Justice. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he understood workers' fears over jobs, but said walkouts were "not the right thing to do". | Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he understood workers' fears over jobs, but said walkouts were "not the right thing to do". |
| Lord Mandelson said he hoped the strikes would be called off after Total issued a statement maintaining that firms from the UK were not barred from bidding for subcontracts. | Lord Mandelson said he hoped the strikes would be called off after Total issued a statement maintaining that firms from the UK were not barred from bidding for subcontracts. |
| The firm said it sub-contracted "on a fair and non-discriminatory basis" and that wage rates were the same as for equivalent jobs on site. | The firm said it sub-contracted "on a fair and non-discriminatory basis" and that wage rates were the same as for equivalent jobs on site. |
| Labour laws | Labour laws |
| It would work with sub-contractors to ensure British workers were treated fairly, it added. | It would work with sub-contractors to ensure British workers were treated fairly, it added. |
| Lord Mandelson said arguments over rulings by the European Court were a separate issue. | Lord Mandelson said arguments over rulings by the European Court were a separate issue. |
| The European Court of Justice has recently provided interpretations of the EU's Posted Workers Directive, which seeks to ensure companies cannot use foreign employees to get round domestic labour laws and pay rates. | The European Court of Justice has recently provided interpretations of the EU's Posted Workers Directive, which seeks to ensure companies cannot use foreign employees to get round domestic labour laws and pay rates. |
| Its rulings suggest a company should be free to decide how it is staffed and free to provide the services it wishes. | Its rulings suggest a company should be free to decide how it is staffed and free to provide the services it wishes. |
| But former Labour minister Frank Field, co-chairman of a cross-party group on immigration, urged Mr Brown to push for a change in EU law to protect workers. | But former Labour minister Frank Field, co-chairman of a cross-party group on immigration, urged Mr Brown to push for a change in EU law to protect workers. |
| "This form of contract clearly cannot go on - where contracts are awarded and there's free movement of companies but those companies then restrict who can apply for those jobs." | "This form of contract clearly cannot go on - where contracts are awarded and there's free movement of companies but those companies then restrict who can apply for those jobs." |
| Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, which campaigns for Britain's exit from the EU, said: "'British jobs for British workers' will only happen when Britain is run by and for Britons." | Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, which campaigns for Britain's exit from the EU, said: "'British jobs for British workers' will only happen when Britain is run by and for Britons." |
| But the Lib Dems have warned against any move by the government to exempt Britain from EU employment laws, saying it would constitute an "own goal". | But the Lib Dems have warned against any move by the government to exempt Britain from EU employment laws, saying it would constitute an "own goal". |
| "If every EU country followed suit, we would have to cope with a massive influx of British people who work overseas," said Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg. | "If every EU country followed suit, we would have to cope with a massive influx of British people who work overseas," said Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg. |
| The Conservatives said they understood people's fears about unemployment but said strikes were "not the way forward". The party also supports the free movement of Labour within the EU. | The Conservatives said they understood people's fears about unemployment but said strikes were "not the way forward". The party also supports the free movement of Labour within the EU. |