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| Nuclear workers join strikes wave | Nuclear workers join strikes wave |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Contractors at two nuclear plants have walked out in support of protests over the use of foreign labour, in the latest of a wave of unofficial strikes. | Contractors at two nuclear plants have walked out in support of protests over the use of foreign labour, in the latest of a wave of unofficial strikes. |
| The walk-outs at Sellafield and Heysham came as talks were set to start over the dispute, which began at Total-owned Lindsey oil refinery, Lincolnshire. | |
| Workers at Grangemouth oil refinery and power stations in Longannet, Warrington and Staythorpe have also walked out. | Workers at Grangemouth oil refinery and power stations in Longannet, Warrington and Staythorpe have also walked out. |
| Total insists it is not discriminating against British workers. | Total insists it is not discriminating against British workers. |
| 'Best suited' | 'Best suited' |
| The mediation service ACAS has been involved in trying to end the dispute and Total managers are meeting sub-contractors and union leaders for talks in Scunthorpe. | The mediation service ACAS has been involved in trying to end the dispute and Total managers are meeting sub-contractors and union leaders for talks in Scunthorpe. |
| Thousands went on strike last week in a series of unofficial walk-outs around the UK, to show solidarity with workers protesting at the use of Italian and Portuguese labour at the Lindsey refinery in North Lincolnshire. 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 Willie Doggert, striker and GMB convener class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2009/02/confusion_on_th.html"> Newslog: 'Ministers differ on strikes' | |
| Workers there were angry a contract to expand the refinery was sub-contracted to an Italian firm, IREM, which decided to use its own workforce. | |
| Business Secretary Lord Mandelson had earlier urged workers to call off planned "sympathy strikes". | Business Secretary Lord Mandelson had earlier urged workers to call off planned "sympathy strikes". |
| He stressed that under EU law companies had the right to sub-contract work to those companies "best suited" for the job. | He stressed that under EU law companies had the right to sub-contract work to those companies "best suited" for the job. |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that claims that British workers had been excluded from the disputed contract, or that foreign workers were being paid less than the going rate, were both unfounded. | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that claims that British workers had been excluded from the disputed contract, or that foreign workers were being paid less than the going rate, were both unfounded. |
| The atrocious weather in some parts could affect the number of workers joining the strike rallies, but unions said they expected widespread action. | The atrocious weather in some parts could affect the number of workers joining the strike rallies, but unions said they expected widespread action. |
| At dawn on Monday, about 300 protesters gathered at the Lincolnshire refinery's terminal gates. | At dawn on Monday, about 300 protesters gathered at the Lincolnshire refinery's terminal gates. |
| About 600 mechanical contractors met in a car park at Sellafield, in Cumbria, early on Monday to discuss whether to take industrial action. | |
| Protesters brave the snow at Lindsey oil refinery | |
| 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 about 400 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 about 400 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. |
| About 300 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. | About 300 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. More than 1,500 workers in Scotland walked out on Friday. | 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. |
| Around 200 construction workers at Fiddlers Ferry Power station in Warrington, Chesshire, have again downed tools, following similar action on Friday. | Around 200 construction workers at Fiddlers Ferry Power station in Warrington, Chesshire, have again downed tools, following similar action on Friday. |
| Staff at Drax Power Station, near Selby in North Yorkshire, told the BBC "one or two contractors" walked out on Monday. The company said it expected them to be back at work on Tuesday. | Staff at Drax Power Station, near Selby in North Yorkshire, told the BBC "one or two contractors" walked out on Monday. The company said it expected them to be back at work on Tuesday. |
| 'Very determined' | 'Very determined' |
| Speaking from Total's Lindsey 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. | Speaking from Total's Lindsey 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. |
| Mr McAulay said he hoped for a resolution but he did not know what was on the agenda. | Mr McAulay said he hoped for a resolution but he 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. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme | |
| 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. |
| Health Secretary Alan Johnson, a former union leader, said both the government and trade unions strongly backed EU laws on the free movement of labour. But he said 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". |
| Total 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 |
| 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 around 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 around 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. |
| 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. | But the Lib Dems have warned against any move by the government to exempt Britain from EU employment laws. |
| Leader Nick Clegg said such a decision would constitute an "own goal" because if other EU countries followed suit Britain would have to cope with a "massive influx" of British people who currently work overseas. | Leader Nick Clegg said such a decision would constitute an "own goal" because if other EU countries followed suit Britain would have to cope with a "massive influx" of British people who currently work overseas. |
| The Conservatives - who also supports the free movement of labour within the EU - said they understood fears about unemployment but said strikes were not the way forward. |