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Sacked oil staff to burn letters Sacked oil workers burn letters
(about 1 hour later)
Workers at the Lindsey oil refinery, sacked for taking unofficial strike action, have pledged to burn their dismissal letters in a mass protest. Workers at the Lindsey oil refinery, sacked for taking unofficial strike action, have burned their dismissal letters in a mass protest.
Their act of defiance is due to be held near the refinery later. It came as workers from other UK sites walked out in support.
Total, which runs the facility in North Lincolnshire, sacked 650 construction workers, giving them until Monday evening to reapply for their jobs.Total, which runs the facility in North Lincolnshire, sacked 650 construction workers, giving them until Monday evening to reapply for their jobs.
Last week the firm was accused of pulling out of talks with unions at the conciliation service Acas.Last week the firm was accused of pulling out of talks with unions at the conciliation service Acas.
The GMB union is organising a demonstration on Tuesday in protest at what it is says is Total's refusal to take part in peace talks. Elsewhere, about 200 contractors have walked out of Aberthaw power station in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales, in support of workers at the Lindsey oil refinery.
The GMB is not walking away from the disgraceful and outrageous behaviour of Total GMB General secretary Paul Kenny And around 200 contractors at Drax and Eggborough power stations near Selby, North Yorkshire, have walked out.
Last week hundreds of construction workers at other refineries and power stations walked out in sympathy with the sacked Lindsey workers. They may join the mass rally on Tuesday.
Total sacked the 650 staff after they took part in industrial action following a dispute over jobs.
General secretary of the GMB Paul Kenny said: "The GMB is not walking away from the disgraceful and outrageous behaviour of Total.
"We will support the locked-out and victimised workers and will demonstrate our support with peaceful and lawful protests."
Job cuts
Mr Kenny called on Total to meet the unions as soon as possible to try to end the dispute.
Activists have said they expect thousands of workers to take action in the coming days in support of the sacked workers.Activists have said they expect thousands of workers to take action in the coming days in support of the sacked workers.
Workers in Teesside, South Wales, Cheshire and Yorkshire were among those who came out in support last week.Workers in Teesside, South Wales, Cheshire and Yorkshire were among those who came out in support last week.
Foreign workers row
The sacked Lindsey workers had been building another plant next to the existing site in Killingholme, but withdrew their labour last week in protest at a sub-contractor axing 51 jobs while another employer on the site was hiring people.The sacked Lindsey workers had been building another plant next to the existing site in Killingholme, but withdrew their labour last week in protest at a sub-contractor axing 51 jobs while another employer on the site was hiring people.
The workers argued this broke an agreement not to cut jobs while there were vacancies elsewhere on the site. Total insists no such agreement was in place.The workers argued this broke an agreement not to cut jobs while there were vacancies elsewhere on the site. Total insists no such agreement was in place.
Workers say the assurances were given in February following a bitter dispute in which they said foreign labour was being used to exclude British contractors and to undermine hard-won conditions.Workers say the assurances were given in February following a bitter dispute in which they said foreign labour was being used to exclude British contractors and to undermine hard-won conditions.
The foreign workers row led to to a wave of unofficial strikes and protests at refineries and power stations across the UK.The foreign workers row led to to a wave of unofficial strikes and protests at refineries and power stations across the UK.
The GMB union is organising Tuesday's demonstration in protest at what it is says is Total's refusal to take part in peace talks.
GMB general secretary Paul Kenny said: "We will support the locked-out and victimised workers and will demonstrate our support with peaceful and lawful protests."
Mr Kenny called on Total to meet the unions as soon as possible to try to end the dispute.
Are you an employee or contractor at Lindsey Oil Refinery? Have you gone on strike in support of the sacked Lindsey workers? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you an employee or contractor at Lindsey Oil Refinery? Have you gone on strike in support of the sacked Lindsey workers? Send us your comments using the form below.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions