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Nuclear workers join strikes wave Nuclear workers join strikes wave
(40 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.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.
Workers at Drax Power Station, near Selby in North Yorkshire, and at Coryton oil refinery in Thurrock, Essex, have also walked out. A statement said: "We recognise the concerns of contractors but we must stress that it has never been, and never will be, the policy of Total to discriminate against British companies or British workers."
'Best suited''Best suited'
The mediation service ACAS will meet Total managers, its main contractor Jacobs, and union leaders for talks in Scunthorpe on Monday.The mediation service ACAS will meet Total managers, its main contractor Jacobs, and union leaders for talks in Scunthorpe on Monday.
A Total statement said: "We recognise the concerns of contractors but we must stress that it has never been, and never will be, the policy of Total to discriminate against British companies or British workers." Local discussions between union officials and Total at the Lindsey refinery on Monday ended with the employer saying no more talks would happen until staff returned to work, a union representative told the crowd.
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 Newslog: 'Ministers differ on strikes' 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. We've got more in common with people and workers around this world than with thoseemployers who are doing this to us Keith Gibson, Unite Newslog: 'Ministers differ on strikes'
Workers there were angry a contract to expand the refinery was sub-contracted by Jacobs to an Italian firm, IREM, which decided to use its own workforce.Workers there were angry a contract to expand the refinery was sub-contracted by Jacobs to an Italian firm, IREM, which decided to use its own workforce.
Local discussions between union officials and Total at the Lindsey refinery on Monday ended with the employer saying no more talks would take place until staff returned to work, according to a union official addressing the crowd.
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 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 British workers had been excluded from the disputed contract, or that foreign workers were being paid less than the going rate, were both unfounded.
At dawn on Monday, about 300 protesters gathered at the Lincolnshire refinery's terminal gates. But protests gathered pace on Monday:
About 600 workers met in a car park at Sellafield, in Cumbria, to discuss industrial action and about 1,300 workers are believed to be taking part in a 24-hour stoppage. • About 300 protesters gathered at the Lindsey refinery's terminal gates.
Protesters brave the snow at Lindsey oil refinery • Around 600 workers met in a car park at Sellafield, in Cumbria, to discuss industrial action and about 1,300 workers are believed to be taking part in a 24-hour stoppage at the plant.
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." Strike organisers at Lindsey oil refinery address workers
About 400 contractors at Longannet voted to stay out on strike for 24 hours, and to return for another mass meeting at 0730 GMT on Tuesday. • About 400 contractors at Longannet in Fifeshire voted to stay out for 24 hours, and to return for another meeting at 0730 GMT on Tuesday.
And some 300 contractors at the Grangemouth oil refinery in central Scotland, who took unofficial action on Friday, walked out but decided they would return to work on Tuesday. • Some 300 contractors at the Grangemouth oil refinery in central Scotland walked out but decided they would return to work on Tuesday.
Several mass meetings took place on Monday in Scotland - which saw more than 1,500 workers walk out on Friday. • Around 200 construction workers at Fiddlers Ferry Power station near Warrington, Cheshire, have again downed tools, following similar action on Friday.
Around 200 construction workers at Fiddlers Ferry Power station in Warrington, Cheshire, have again downed tools, following similar action on Friday. • About 150 contractors walked out at Drax Power Station, near Selby in North Yorkshire.
Staff at Drax Power Station, near Selby in North Yorkshire, told the BBC "one or two contractors" had walked out. The company said it expected them to be back on Tuesday. • The owners of Coryton oil refinery in Thurrock, Essex, said a number of workers had walked out but refinery operations were unaffected.
And the owners of Coryton oil refinery in Thurrock, Essex, said a number of workers had walked out. Petroplus said the strikers were from their construction companies and that refinery operations were unaffected. Sellafield 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."
Determined Addressing the crowd in Lincolnshire, Unite's Keith Gibson called for construction workers to take action "right around this country" to show they were not prepared to let the industry "go to the dogs".
Speaking from Total's Lindsey refinery in Killingholme, Unite official Bernard McAulay, said he hoped for a resolution at the talks. "Any lads coming into this industry, whether they be Spanish, French, Italian or Irish, we want access to them on a trade union basis," he said.
But he added: "These men are very determined, they want the opportunity to work." "We've got more in common with people and workers around this world than with those employers who are doing this to us."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he understood workers' fears over jobs, but said walkouts were "not the right thing to do". He said workers wanted the government and employers to prevent discrimination and to provide cash to train "a new generation of workers" to come into the sector. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme
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 Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he understood fears over jobs, but said walk-outs were "not the right thing to do".
The government has said it might challenge EU law to stop cheap foreign labour "undercutting" British workers.
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.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.But he said some of the protections in EU law may have been undermined by recent judgements in the European Court of Justice.
Former Labour minister Frank Field has urged Mr Brown to push for a change in EU law to protect workers.Former Labour minister Frank Field has urged Mr Brown to push for a change in EU law to protect workers.
Total said it operated under UK and EU laws, that it sub-contracted "on a fair and non-discriminatory basis" and that wage rates were the same as those offered for equivalent jobs on site. Total said it operated under UK and EU laws, that it sub-contracted "on a non-discriminatory basis" and that wage rates were the same as those offered for equivalent jobs on site.
'Silly things''Silly things'
Shadow business secretary Kenneth Clarke said the strikes were not the "right way" for people to demonstrate their concerns.Shadow business secretary Kenneth Clarke said the strikes were not the "right way" for people to demonstrate their concerns.
He told Today: "We should make sure that people's understandable rage that they are the innocent victims of this problem doesn't lead to them doing silly things and certainly doesn't lead to policy being made on foolish grounds."He told Today: "We should make sure that people's understandable rage that they are the innocent victims of this problem doesn't lead to them doing silly things and certainly doesn't lead to policy being made on foolish grounds."
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 supports 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 the UK would have to cope with a "massive influx" of Britons who currently work overseas.