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'Talks planned' over refinery row Refinery row talks get under way
(about 1 hour later)
Union officials have told the BBC they are due to meet contractors later to hold talks over the sacking of 647 workers at the Lindsey oil refinery. Talks have begun between union officials and contractors over the sacking of 647 workers at the Lindsey oil refinery.
Les Bayliss, from Unite, said a meeting was planned but problems would continue unless the workers were reinstated. Les Bayliss, from Unite, has warned that unless the workers are reinstated, problems would continue.
Owners of the North Lincolnshire site, Total, has confirmed it will attend the meeting, but merely to observe. Owners of the North Lincolnshire site, Total, are attending the meeting, but say they will merely observe.
Some 3,000 workers at construction sites round the UK have walked out in support of the Lindsey strikers.Some 3,000 workers at construction sites round the UK have walked out in support of the Lindsey strikers.
The Lindsey workers first withdrew their labour on 11 June in protest at a sub-contractor axing 51 jobs while another employer on the site was hiring people.The Lindsey workers first withdrew their labour on 11 June in protest at a sub-contractor axing 51 jobs while another employer on the site was hiring people.
TUESDAY'S PROTESTS 1. Longannet power station Fife, Scotland - 150 walk out2. Cockenzie power station East Lothian3. Sellafield Cumbria4. Ensus refinery Teesside 5. Eggborough Near Goole, East Yorkshire6. Drax power station North Yorkshire7. Stanlow oil refinery Ellesmere Port, Cheshire - 500 people strike8. South Hook LNG terminal Milford Haven9. Aberthaw West of Cardiff - 300 people10. Didcot A power station Oxfordshire - 60 workers 11. Coryton refinery Essex - 200 walk outTUESDAY'S PROTESTS 1. Longannet power station Fife, Scotland - 150 walk out2. Cockenzie power station East Lothian3. Sellafield Cumbria4. Ensus refinery Teesside 5. Eggborough Near Goole, East Yorkshire6. Drax power station North Yorkshire7. Stanlow oil refinery Ellesmere Port, Cheshire - 500 people strike8. South Hook LNG terminal Milford Haven9. Aberthaw West of Cardiff - 300 people10. Didcot A power station Oxfordshire - 60 workers 11. Coryton refinery Essex - 200 walk out
Just over a week later, Total announced that 647 construction workers had been sacked for taking part in unofficial strikes.Just over a week later, Total announced that 647 construction workers had been sacked for taking part in unofficial strikes.
Since then, walkouts have taken place at Lindsey and at other sites around the UK in sympathy with the sacked workers.Since then, walkouts have taken place at Lindsey and at other sites around the UK in sympathy with the sacked workers.
The first meeting of unions and management since the sackings is due to take place in London at 1600 BST on Tuesday. On Tuesday, about 1,000 men demonstrated at the gates of the oil refinery, waving placards saying "Total injustice" and "say no to the death of the construction industry".
It is expected to be attended by a sub-contractor company called Jacobs, Total and union officials from Unite and the GMB. The first meeting of unions and management since the sackings began at 1600 BST in London.
Another sub-contractor Shaw may also attend. It is understood a sub-contractor company called Jacobs, Total and union officials from Unite and the GMB are involved.
Another sub-contractor Shaw was also expected to attend.
The attendance of Total, confirmed only hours before the start of the meeting, marks a turnaround.The attendance of Total, confirmed only hours before the start of the meeting, marks a turnaround.
Previously it had said that talks could only take place if the striking workers returned to their jobs.Previously it had said that talks could only take place if the striking workers returned to their jobs.
A Total spokesman said: "Total will not be actively involved in the meeting but will be present in an observatory manner."A Total spokesman said: "Total will not be actively involved in the meeting but will be present in an observatory manner."
Les Bayliss, assistant general secretary of Unite, said: "We're confident that we can find a mechanism to get a return to work, but... I've made it clear from Unite's position that top of that agenda is the reinstatement of the people that have been sacked.Les Bayliss, assistant general secretary of Unite, said: "We're confident that we can find a mechanism to get a return to work, but... I've made it clear from Unite's position that top of that agenda is the reinstatement of the people that have been sacked.
"So unless that issue is dealt with then we're going to have a continued problem.""So unless that issue is dealt with then we're going to have a continued problem."
Protests have taken place at the plant since the sackings and on Tuesday morning about 1,000 men waved placards at the gates in a demonstration organised by the GMB union.
Total 'in control'Total 'in control'
The sacked workers had been employed on a project known as HDS-3 to build a new site alongside the existing Lindsey plant.
Total fears the unofficial strikes have set the project back by months and, as a result, will cost an extra £100m.
There have also been concerns that the row could jeopardise the long-term future of the plant and the jobs that come with it.
Bob Emmerson, of Total, said: "Without talks with our workers this project cannot continue and it does put its future on thin ice."
Paul Kenny: "There's a lot of exploitation in the industry"
General secretary of the GMB union, Paul Kenny, said Total had far more control over the situation than it was admitting.General secretary of the GMB union, Paul Kenny, said Total had far more control over the situation than it was admitting.
"The reality is, Total call the shots," he told the BBC. "If they tell the contractors, 'settle this dispute,' it'll be settled."The reality is, Total call the shots," he told the BBC. "If they tell the contractors, 'settle this dispute,' it'll be settled.
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"The reason that those dismissal notices were issued was because Total wanted them to be.""The reason that those dismissal notices were issued was because Total wanted them to be."
The GMB also reiterated its plan to hold a national ballot for industrial action among tens of thousands of its members employed in the mechanical engineering sector.The GMB also reiterated its plan to hold a national ballot for industrial action among tens of thousands of its members employed in the mechanical engineering sector.
Total said discussions "should focus on getting the project back up and running within the agreed timeframe and budget". Last week, Total told the sacked workers they had until Monday, 22 June to reapply for their jobs.
"There is no question of a reduction in pay or dilution of existing terms and conditions," it added. The company has said it expects to hear by the end of the week how many contract workers had chosen to return.
The sacked workers had been employed on a project known as HDS-3 to build a new site alongside the existing Lindsey plant.
Paul Kenny: "There's a lot of exploitation in the industry"
Bob Emmerson, from the company, told the BBC the row could jeopardise the long-term future of the plant.
"It's about safeguarding the future of the refinery and the jobs that go with it over the next few years," he said.
"Without talks with our workers this project cannot continue and it does put its future on thin ice."
The company said it expected to hear by the end of the week how many contract workers had chosen to return.
The Lindsey workers are accusing bosses of breaking an agreement not to cut jobs while there are 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.
The foreign workers row led to a wave of unofficial strikes and protests at refineries and power stations across the UK.