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| Foreign labour row 'deal reached' | Foreign labour row 'deal reached' |
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| Unions will recommend workers at Lindsey Oil Refinery in Lincolnshire go back to work, after an improved offer on use of foreign labour was proposed. | Unions will recommend workers at Lindsey Oil Refinery in Lincolnshire go back to work, after an improved offer on use of foreign labour was proposed. |
| Workers had earlier rejected a deal brokered by Acas on Tuesday, which said 60 out of 198 disputed jobs would be made available to British workers. | Workers had earlier rejected a deal brokered by Acas on Tuesday, which said 60 out of 198 disputed jobs would be made available to British workers. |
| The BBC understands those jobs would be new, and no foreign workers would lose their post as a result of the dispute. | The BBC understands those jobs would be new, and no foreign workers would lose their post as a result of the dispute. |
| UK workers had vowed to keep protesting until they achieved "victory". | UK workers had vowed to keep protesting until they achieved "victory". |
| At a second mass meeting at the Lindsey site on Wednesday, union shop stewards heard an offer had been reached that the union seemed to be "satisfied with", said BBC correspondent Danny Savage. | At a second mass meeting at the Lindsey site on Wednesday, union shop stewards heard an offer had been reached that the union seemed to be "satisfied with", said BBC correspondent Danny Savage. |
| The final number of jobs on offer for British workers is expected to be about 100. | |
| The full details, plus a recommendation from the unions to return to work, would be confirmed at another mass meeting on Thursday morning, he said. | The full details, plus a recommendation from the unions to return to work, would be confirmed at another mass meeting on Thursday morning, he said. |
| A deal that had put foreign workers out of a job "would have led to a huge row about protectionism," said our correspondent. | A deal that had put foreign workers out of a job "would have led to a huge row about protectionism," said our correspondent. |
| Proof demanded | Proof demanded |
| Workers have been angry a sub-contractor was "excluding" British workers in the way it was importing a ready-made workforce from Europe. | Workers have been angry a sub-contractor was "excluding" British workers in the way it was importing a ready-made workforce from Europe. |
| Similar protests have spread around the UK in the past week. | Similar protests have spread around the UK in the past week. |
| The suggested solution to give some of the jobs to Britons came after two days of talks between unions and the refinery owner, Total. | The suggested solution to give some of the jobs to Britons came after two days of talks between unions and the refinery owner, Total. |
| Negotiations have been going on since Monday, continued into Wednesday. | Negotiations have been going on since Monday, continued into Wednesday. |
| A GMB spokesman earlier said it was awaiting details of an offer of 101 jobs for British workers - which apparently came late on Tuesday evening - to be put in writing. | A GMB spokesman earlier said it was awaiting details of an offer of 101 jobs for British workers - which apparently came late on Tuesday evening - to be put in writing. |
| At a mass meeting early on Wednesday morning, protesters heard a proposed deal would see 40 skilled and 20 unskilled jobs being made available to the British workforce. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | At a mass meeting early on Wednesday morning, protesters heard a proposed deal would see 40 skilled and 20 unskilled jobs being made available to the British workforce. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| But our correspondent said they believed the figure was too low, and rejected it. | But our correspondent said they believed the figure was too low, and rejected it. |
| They also demanded proof that the foreign workers being brought in were on the same pay and terms and conditions as their British counterparts. | They also demanded proof that the foreign workers being brought in were on the same pay and terms and conditions as their British counterparts. |
| Total has consistently claimed this is the case, but local workers do not believe it, added our correspondent. | Total has consistently claimed this is the case, but local workers do not believe it, added our correspondent. |
| Unemployed workers and contractors in oil refineries, power stations and nuclear plants have been taking part in protests since last week. | Unemployed workers and contractors in oil refineries, power stations and nuclear plants have been taking part in protests since last week. |
| Union activists have said the issue has been simmering in the industry for years, with British workers being excluded from applying for some jobs. | Union activists have said the issue has been simmering in the industry for years, with British workers being excluded from applying for some jobs. |
| On Wednesday morning protesters again gathered at the Lindsey site, in North Killingholme, where the current row erupted a week ago. | On Wednesday morning protesters again gathered at the Lindsey site, in North Killingholme, where the current row erupted a week ago. |
| 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 foreign workforce. | 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 foreign workforce. |
| Total insists it is not discriminating against British workers and that the decision to award the contract was fair. ONE WEEK OF SUPPORT PROTESTS 1-5: Stanlow oil refinery [1]; Longannet Power Station [2]; Drax Power Station [3]; Coryton Refinery [4]; Langage Power Station [5]6-10: Marchwood Power Station [6]; Fawley Refinery [7]; Torness Power Station [8]; Mossmorran chemical plant [9]; Aberthaw power station [10] 11-15: South Hook gas terminal [11]; ICI chemical refinery [12]; Corus steel plant [13]; Fiddler's Ferry Power Station [14]; AES Kilroot Power Station [15]16-22: Cockenzie Power Station [16]; Sellafield nuclear site [17]; Heysham nuclear power station [18]; Staythorpe power station [19]; Didcot Power Station [20] Grangemouth oil refinery [21]; St Fergus gas plant [22] | Total insists it is not discriminating against British workers and that the decision to award the contract was fair. ONE WEEK OF SUPPORT PROTESTS 1-5: Stanlow oil refinery [1]; Longannet Power Station [2]; Drax Power Station [3]; Coryton Refinery [4]; Langage Power Station [5]6-10: Marchwood Power Station [6]; Fawley Refinery [7]; Torness Power Station [8]; Mossmorran chemical plant [9]; Aberthaw power station [10] 11-15: South Hook gas terminal [11]; ICI chemical refinery [12]; Corus steel plant [13]; Fiddler's Ferry Power Station [14]; AES Kilroot Power Station [15]16-22: Cockenzie Power Station [16]; Sellafield nuclear site [17]; Heysham nuclear power station [18]; Staythorpe power station [19]; Didcot Power Station [20] Grangemouth oil refinery [21]; St Fergus gas plant [22] |
| But the protests spread and in the last week thousands of workers at more than 20 sites in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have taken part in sympathy walkouts and protests. | But the protests spread and in the last week thousands of workers at more than 20 sites in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have taken part in sympathy walkouts and protests. |
| Union sources had earlier told the BBC that the deal may offer 50% of the disputed jobs to British workers. | Union sources had earlier told the BBC that the deal may offer 50% of the disputed jobs to British workers. |
| The first offer put to the mass meeting, of 60 jobs, was a "derisory olive branch", said Unite shop steward Kenny Ward. | The first offer put to the mass meeting, of 60 jobs, was a "derisory olive branch", said Unite shop steward Kenny Ward. |
| He said the mood was resolute and the workers were "determined to achieve a victory at Lindsey because this is where the fight started". | He said the mood was resolute and the workers were "determined to achieve a victory at Lindsey because this is where the fight started". |
| He said people had had enough of employers using "unjust laws" to "pitch one European worker against fellow European workers" in the pursuit of profit. | He said people had had enough of employers using "unjust laws" to "pitch one European worker against fellow European workers" in the pursuit of profit. |
| Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite, told BBC Breakfast that besides this dispute there was a "wider problem" to address. | Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite, told BBC Breakfast that besides this dispute there was a "wider problem" to address. |
| "Even if this dispute is settled [there is] still a major problem about how these foreign companies, who win contracts and come complete with a workforce, are going to create other difficulties. | "Even if this dispute is settled [there is] still a major problem about how these foreign companies, who win contracts and come complete with a workforce, are going to create other difficulties. |
| "We need to build in some sort of concept that the jobs that are created by these contracts are open to everyone - to foreign and to UK workers." | "We need to build in some sort of concept that the jobs that are created by these contracts are open to everyone - to foreign and to UK workers." |
| He said there were several other similar disputes "bubbling under" at other places. | He said there were several other similar disputes "bubbling under" at other places. |
| "It will occur again, and I'm sure it will occur in other countries as well unless there's a realisation that you can't just use the freedom of labour to the exclusion of indigenous labour." | "It will occur again, and I'm sure it will occur in other countries as well unless there's a realisation that you can't just use the freedom of labour to the exclusion of indigenous labour." |
| Protesters have vehemently denied the issue is about racism against the foreign workers themselves.The European workers are living in floating accommodation nearby | Protesters have vehemently denied the issue is about racism against the foreign workers themselves.The European workers are living in floating accommodation nearby |
| They say it is a battle to allow British workers equal access to jobs on British construction sites. | They say it is a battle to allow British workers equal access to jobs on British construction sites. |
| The CBI has backed Total, while Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has said the country should focus on the economics of the recession, not on "the politics of xenophobia". | The CBI has backed Total, while Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has said the country should focus on the economics of the recession, not on "the politics of xenophobia". |
| But Labour backbencher Jon Cruddas criticised the language being used by the government and said people should focus on the need for employers to respect local employment agreements as well as national pay deals. | But Labour backbencher Jon Cruddas criticised the language being used by the government and said people should focus on the need for employers to respect local employment agreements as well as national pay deals. |
| He said referring to the anger as xenophobic showed a lack of respect for the issues. | He said referring to the anger as xenophobic showed a lack of respect for the issues. |
| Labour MP John Mann has put down a Commons early day motion "deploring" the use of foreign workers at the Lindsey refinery and praising unions for "exposing this exploitation and the absence of equal opportunities to apply for all jobs". | Labour MP John Mann has put down a Commons early day motion "deploring" the use of foreign workers at the Lindsey refinery and praising unions for "exposing this exploitation and the absence of equal opportunities to apply for all jobs". |