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Foreign labour row deal rejected Foreign labour row deal rejected
(about 1 hour later)
Workers battling against the use of foreign labour at North Lincolnshire's Lindsey Oil Refinery have refused to accept a deal proposed in Acas talks. Workers battling against the use of foreign labour at Lindsey Oil Refinery in Lincolnshire have refused to accept a deal proposed after Acas talks.
The suggested solution came after talks between unions and the refinery owner. A mass meeting was told 60 of the 198 disputed jobs would potentially be made available to British workers.
There were reports that about half of the disputed 200 jobs would be offered to British workers, but workers have been told it would be less than 25%. But there was confusion as the GMB said the offer put to the meeting had been superceded by another, of 101 UK jobs.
Workers are angry a sub-contractor is using only non-British labour, and similar protests spread around the UK. But protesters have vowed to continue their unofficial action, calling the first offer a "derisory olive branch".
Workers are angry a sub-contractor is bringing in non-British labour, and similar protests spread around the UK.
Proof demandedProof demanded
The suggested solution came after two days of talks between unions and the refinery owner. Negotiations are now continuing, and there are indications the higher offer may emerge on Wednesday afternoon.
A GMB spokesman said they were awaiting details of the 101-job offer - which apparently came late on Tuesday evening - to be put in writing.
Speaking from the Lindsey site, the BBC's Danny Savage said: "As things stand this protest continues, this dispute is not over."Speaking from the Lindsey site, the BBC's Danny Savage said: "As things stand this protest continues, this dispute is not over."
At a mass meeting on site on Wednesday, protesters were told that about 60 of the 200 jobs would be made available to British workers - 40 skilled and 20 unskilled. At a mass meeting on site on Wednesday, protesters heard a proposed deal would see 40 skilled and 20 unskilled jobs being made available to the British workforce. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme
They believed the figure was too low, and have also demanded proof that the foreign workers being brought in are on the same pay and terms and conditions as their British counterparts. But our correspondent said they believed the figure was too low. They have also demanded proof that the foreign workers being brought in are 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 the BBC correspondent. Total has consistently claimed this is the case, but local workers do not believe it, added our correspondent.
Negotiations will continue on Wednesday, he said. 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. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
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, a week after the walkouts began.On Wednesday morning protesters again gathered at the Lindsey site, a week after the walkouts began.
The current row is centred on the North Lincolnshire plant, in North Killingholme, which is owned by French company Total.The current row is centred on the North Lincolnshire plant, in North Killingholme, which is owned by French company Total.
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 foreign workforce.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 foreign 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. 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.
Talks involving the unions, Total, and its contractors began on Monday in Scunthorpe, then moved to a hotel near Grimsby. 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] Talks involving the unions, Total, and its contractors began on Monday in Scunthorpe, then moved to a hotel near Grimsby.
Union sources had told the BBC that the deal appeared to 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.
Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite, told BBC Breakfast the dispute needed to be settled, but there was still a "wider problem" to address. The 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 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.
"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."
During Tuesday's demonstration outside the Lindsey plant strike committee member Phil Whitehurst said they were convinced of their case. Protesters have vehemently denied the issue is about racism against the foreign workers themselves.The European workers are living in floating accommodation nearby
"People have said it's racist. It's not. We're not part of the BNP. I've shunned the BNP away from here," he said. They say it is a battle to allow British workers equal access to jobs on British construction sites.
"It's about British workers getting access to a British construction site." 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 the company at the centre of the dispute, 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.
"Unfortunately, over the last day or two, we have heard a lot of talk about xenophobia," he said. He said referring to the anger as xenophobic showed a lack of respect for the issues.
"I am afraid that does not respect some of the issues that are at work here and that sort of language builds up the problem rather than acknowledges the nature of the problem."
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".