Hundreds of workers are continuing unofficial strike action over the use of foreign contractors, as talks resumed to try to resolve the dispute.
Hundreds of workers are continuing unofficial strike action over the use of foreign contractors, as talks resumed to try to resolve the dispute.
Protesters gathered outside Lindsey Oil Refinery - where the wave of strikes originated last week - saying they were awaiting the outcome of the Acas talks.
Protesters gathered outside Lindsey Oil Refinery - where the wave of strikes originated last week - saying they were awaiting the outcome of the Acas talks.
Some 600 workers walked out of Langage power station near Plymouth on Tuesday in support of the wildcat strikes.
Some 600 workers walked out of Langage power station near Plymouth on Tuesday in support of the wildcat strikes.
Workers in Cheshire, North Yorkshire and Essex have also continued striking.
Workers in Cheshire, North Yorkshire and Essex have also continued striking.
Contractors at Longannet power station in Fife voted to continue their support and will meet again on Friday.
Contractors at Longannet power station in Fife voted to continue their support and will meet again on Friday.
The CBI has backed the company at the centre of the dispute against union claims that it has discriminated against British workers.
The CBI has backed the company at the centre of the dispute against union claims that it has discriminated against British workers.
Meanwhile a Labour MP has put down a Commons early day motion (EDM) "deploring" the use of foreign workers at the Lindsey refinery, which is owned by Total. People have said it's racist. It's not Phil Whitehurst, strike committee
Meanwhile, a Labour MP has put down a Commons early day motion (EDM) "deploring" the use of foreign workers at the Lindsey refinery, which is owned by Total. People have said it's racist. It's not Phil Whitehurst, strike committee
The motion from John Mann - MP for Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire - congratulated unions for "exposing this exploitation and the absence of equal opportunities to apply for all jobs".
The motion from John Mann - MP for Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire - congratulated unions for "exposing this exploitation and the absence of equal opportunities to apply for all jobs".
The MP also said upcoming large capital projects - such as new power stations - should be built by "companies employing primarily British labour on decent pay and conditions".
The MP also said upcoming large capital projects - such as new power stations - should be built by "companies employing primarily British labour on decent pay and conditions".
He called on the mediator to also investigate a contract at the new Staythorpe power station in Newark, Nottinghamshire.
He called on the mediator to also investigate a contract at the new Staythorpe power station in Newark, Nottinghamshire.
Walk-outs
Walk-outs
Talks on the dispute - which began on Monday - have resumed at a hotel near Grimsby between the mediation service Acas, Total managers, the main contractor Jacobs, and union officials.
Talks on the dispute - which began on Monday - have resumed at a hotel near Grimsby between the mediation service Acas, Total managers, the main contractor Jacobs, and union officials.
About 500 protesting contractors at Grangemouth oil refinery in central Scotland returned to work on Tuesday.
About 500 protesting contractors at Grangemouth oil refinery in central Scotland returned to work on Tuesday.
Up to 500 workers at Shell's Stanlow refinery, Cheshire, walked out but no protests are being held and workers are believed to be expected back on Wednesday.
Up to 500 workers at Shell's Stanlow refinery, Cheshire, walked out but no protests are being held and workers are believed to be expected back on Wednesday.
Some workers at Drax Power Station, near Selby in North Yorkshire, have also continued to strike in support of the dispute, following a walk-out by 150 contractors there on Monday. TUESDAY: SUPPORT STRIKES 1. Stanlow oil refinery2. Longannet power station3. Drax power station4. Coryton oil refinery
Some workers at Drax Power Station, near Selby in North Yorkshire, have also continued to strike in support of the dispute, following a walk-out by 150 contractors there on Monday. TUESDAY: SUPPORT STRIKES 1. Stanlow oil refinery2. Longannet power station3. Drax power station4. Coryton oil refinery
Drax said the action was having no impact on power generation.
Drax said the action was having no impact on power generation.
About 250 contractors - mainly maintenance workers - at Coryton oil refinery in Thurrock, Essex, have continued their solidarity action.
About 250 contractors - mainly maintenance workers - at Coryton oil refinery in Thurrock, Essex, have continued their solidarity action.
Thousands of workers were on strike last week and on Monday 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.
Thousands of workers were on strike last week and on Monday 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.
Workers there were angry that a contract for work to expand the refinery was sub-contracted by Total's main contractor - engineering firm Jacobs - to an Italian company, IREM, which decided to use its own workforce.
Workers there were angry that a contract for work to expand the refinery was sub-contracted by Total's main contractor - engineering firm Jacobs - to an Italian company, IREM, which decided to use its own workforce.
Total insists it is not discriminating against British workers, and that the decision to award the contract was fair.
Total insists it is not discriminating against British workers, and that the decision to award the contract was fair.
Speaking from the crowd of protesters at the Lindsey site in North Lincolnshire, strike committee member Phil Whitehurst said he and his colleagues were convinced of their case.
Speaking from the crowd of protesters at the Lindsey site in North Lincolnshire, strike committee member Phil Whitehurst said he and his colleagues were convinced of their case.
He said they had nothing against the Italian workers at the centre of the dispute.
He said they had nothing against the Italian workers at the centre of the dispute.
"People have said it's racist. It's not. We're not part of the BNP [British National Party]. I've shunned the BNP away from here.
"People have said it's racist. It's not. We're not part of the BNP [British National Party]. I've shunned the BNP away from here.
"It's about British workers getting access to a British construction site."
"It's about British workers getting access to a British construction site."
The protesters later dispersed, agreeing to reconvene at 0700 GMT on Wednesday.
The protesters later dispersed, agreeing to reconvene at 0700 GMT on Wednesday.
CBI backing
CBI backing
CBI deputy director general John Cridland told MPs there was no evidence of any discrimination and no need for any change in EU law to safeguard British workers.
CBI deputy director general John Cridland told MPs there was no evidence of any discrimination and no need for any change in EU law to safeguard British workers.
He said: "As far as we are aware they [the company] are operating lawfully."
He said: "As far as we are aware they [the company] are operating lawfully."
Mr Cridland also said the CBI did not believe there was any need to amend court rulings relating to the EU's Postal Workers Directive, which unions have claimed enables companies to discriminate against British workers.
Mr Cridland also said the CBI did not believe there was any need to amend court rulings relating to the EU's Postal Workers Directive, which unions have claimed enables companies to discriminate against British workers.
He said that related to whether agreements reached by trade unions under collective bargaining agreements should be applied to foreign workers.
He said that related to whether agreements reached by trade unions under collective bargaining agreements should be applied to foreign workers.
But foreign workers are currently guaranteed statutory rights such as the national minimum wage, health and safety and the working time directive, he said.
But foreign workers are currently guaranteed statutory rights such as the national minimum wage, health and safety and the working time directive, he said.
On Monday contractors at two UK nuclear plants - Sellafield and Heysham - joined the dispute with a "sympathy strike".
On Monday contractors at two UK nuclear plants - Sellafield and Heysham - joined the dispute with a "sympathy strike".
Workers at Grangemouth oil refinery, central Scotland, and power stations in Longannet, Warrington, and Staythorpe in Nottinghamshire were also among those to walk out.
Workers at Grangemouth oil refinery, central Scotland, and power stations in Longannet, Warrington, and Staythorpe in Nottinghamshire were also among those to walk out.
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