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| Refinery strikes spread across UK | Refinery strikes spread across UK |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Strikes have been breaking out across the UK in support of a mass walkout by energy workers in Lincolnshire angry at the use of foreign workers. | Strikes have been breaking out across the UK in support of a mass walkout by energy workers in Lincolnshire angry at the use of foreign workers. |
| Hundreds are gathered for the third day of the original strike at Lindsey Oil Refinery after owner Total gave a £200m contract to an Italian firm. | Hundreds are gathered for the third day of the original strike at Lindsey Oil Refinery after owner Total gave a £200m contract to an Italian firm. |
| They have been joined by strikers in Grangemouth, in central Scotland, Aberthaw, in South Wales, and Teesside. | They have been joined by strikers in Grangemouth, in central Scotland, Aberthaw, in South Wales, and Teesside. |
| "Sympathy strikes... are spreading rapidly," said the BBC's Danny Savage. | "Sympathy strikes... are spreading rapidly," said the BBC's Danny Savage. |
| Hundreds of striking workers are holding a mass meeting at the Lincolnshire refinery. | Hundreds of striking workers are holding a mass meeting at the Lincolnshire refinery. |
| Total said there would be "no direct redundancies" at the refinery at North Killingholme as a result of the contract for the Italian company. It's been a kettle ready to boil and the lid has blown off now Kenny, protester class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5987&edition=1">Send us your comments | |
| Early on Friday around 700 workers at the Grangemouth Oil Refinery walked out in solidarity with the Lincolnshire strikers. | Early on Friday around 700 workers at the Grangemouth Oil Refinery walked out in solidarity with the Lincolnshire strikers. |
| South Wales Police are attending a protest at Aberthaw Power Station, which organisers said involved around 50 people peacefully rallying outside the main gate. | South Wales Police are attending a protest at Aberthaw Power Station, which organisers said involved around 50 people peacefully rallying outside the main gate. |
| Meanwhile Cleveland Police have confirmed that around 400 demonstrators are now involved in a protest at all four gates of the former ICI complex at Wilton on Teesside. | Meanwhile Cleveland Police have confirmed that around 400 demonstrators are now involved in a protest at all four gates of the former ICI complex at Wilton on Teesside. |
| And some unconfirmed reports have suggested that up to 200 people have gathered outside the Corus plant near Redcar. | And some unconfirmed reports have suggested that up to 200 people have gathered outside the Corus plant near Redcar. |
| One protester at the Lincolnshire plant, called Kenny, said British workers should have priority of access to jobs. | One protester at the Lincolnshire plant, called Kenny, said British workers should have priority of access to jobs. |
| He said the issue was a growing one for many industries. | He said the issue was a growing one for many industries. |
| "It's been a kettle ready to boil and the lid has blown off now." | "It's been a kettle ready to boil and the lid has blown off now." |
| Total bosses said the Italian firm IREM, which employs a specialist workforce, had won the contract to construct the new HDS-3 unit at the Lindsey plant, after a tendering process. | Total bosses said the Italian firm IREM, which employs a specialist workforce, had won the contract to construct the new HDS-3 unit at the Lindsey plant, after a tendering process. |
| More than 300 of the Italian firm's workers have been brought in to do the work. | More than 300 of the Italian firm's workers have been brought in to do the work. |
| 'Moral indignation' | 'Moral indignation' |
| Joint leader of the Unite union, Derek Simpson, said workers felt powerless. | Joint leader of the Unite union, Derek Simpson, said workers felt powerless. |
| "You can understand the moral indignation as well as the industrial concern that people are expected to have skills, but be unemployed and watch foreign workers [be employed] who have got more privilege because they're not barred from these contracts. | "You can understand the moral indignation as well as the industrial concern that people are expected to have skills, but be unemployed and watch foreign workers [be employed] who have got more privilege because they're not barred from these contracts. |
| "The only role that we have is to pay the electric bills from the power stations that they build. No-one can stand aside and say that that is any way justified." | "The only role that we have is to pay the electric bills from the power stations that they build. No-one can stand aside and say that that is any way justified." |
| In a statement, Total said: "We recognise the concerns of contractors but it is important to note that there will be no direct redundancies as a result of this contract being awarded. | In a statement, Total said: "We recognise the concerns of contractors but it is important to note that there will be no direct redundancies as a result of this contract being awarded. |
| "We have been a major local employer for 40 years and have always enjoyed a good relationship with our staff and contractors. | "We have been a major local employer for 40 years and have always enjoyed a good relationship with our staff and contractors. |
| "We are disappointed they have taken this action and we hope the situation will be resolved as soon as possible and the contractors return to work." | "We are disappointed they have taken this action and we hope the situation will be resolved as soon as possible and the contractors return to work." |