This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8113679.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Longannet workers prolong strike | Longannet workers prolong strike |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The majority of 150 contract workers at Longannet power station in Fife have decided to continue their unofficial action. | |
| They had walked out in support of strikers at the Lindsey refinery in Lincolnshire. | They had walked out in support of strikers at the Lindsey refinery in Lincolnshire. |
| Scottish Power has confirmed that a number of workers at the Cockenzie Power station have also walked out on unofficial strike. | |
| The company said that the production of power supplies will not be affected | |
| A Scottish Power spokesperson said: "Following meetings at Longannet and Cockenzie this morning, where Trade Unions and their Shop Stewards advised contractors against unofficial industrial action, a small number of workers have chosen to go against this recommendation and will not be working today. | |
| "The contractors involved at both sites are not employed directly by ScottishPower and are undertaking maintenance work over the summer period. ScottishPower employees are not involved, and production of power supplies at both sites remain unaffected." | |
| Total has dropped its opposition to talks with the Lindsey workforce. | |
| The company, which runs the facility in North Lincolnshire, had previously insisted that negotiations could only take place if staff returned to work. | The company, which runs the facility in North Lincolnshire, had previously insisted that negotiations could only take place if staff returned to work. |
| It has now said it is actively encouraging talks. | It has now said it is actively encouraging talks. |
| The GMB union condemned the unofficial walkout and is to hold a national strike ballot to consider industrial action over employment laws for workers. | The GMB union condemned the unofficial walkout and is to hold a national strike ballot to consider industrial action over employment laws for workers. |
| Thousands of workers across England and Wales have also walked out in support of 647 staff sacked from Lindsey Oil Refinery. | Thousands of workers across England and Wales have also walked out in support of 647 staff sacked from Lindsey Oil Refinery. |
| Bitter dispute | Bitter dispute |
| Total has told the sacked workers to reapply for their jobs. | Total has told the sacked workers to reapply for their jobs. |
| The dismissals came after about 1,200 workers staged unofficial walkouts at the plant over a jobs dispute. | The dismissals came after about 1,200 workers staged unofficial walkouts at the plant over a jobs dispute. |
| The workers had accused bosses of breaking an agreement not to cut jobs while there were vacancies elsewhere on the site. Total insisted no such agreement was in place. | The workers had accused bosses of breaking an agreement not to cut jobs while there were vacancies elsewhere on the site. Total insisted 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 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 conditions. |
| The row in February led to a wave of unofficial strikes and protests at refineries and power stations across the UK, including at Longannet. | The row in February led to a wave of unofficial strikes and protests at refineries and power stations across the UK, including at Longannet. |