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| Brown criticises wildcat strikes | Brown criticises wildcat strikes |
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| Wildcat strikes are "not defensible", the prime minister has told those angry at the employment of foreign workers. | Wildcat strikes are "not defensible", the prime minister has told those angry at the employment of foreign workers. |
| Hundreds of employees staged unofficial walkouts across the UK over the use of foreign staff at Lincolnshire refinery. | Hundreds of employees staged unofficial walkouts across the UK over the use of foreign staff at Lincolnshire refinery. |
| Gordon Brown told the BBC's Politics Show he understood workers' worries, but spontaneous walkouts were "not the right thing to do". | Gordon Brown told the BBC's Politics Show he understood workers' worries, but spontaneous walkouts were "not the right thing to do". |
| Earlier, Lord Mandelson said protectionism could turn a recession into a depression. | Earlier, Lord Mandelson said protectionism could turn a recession into a depression. |
| "Sympathy strikes" spread across the country after workers walked out at the Lindsey Oil Refinery when owner Total gave a £200m contract to Italian firm IREM. You'll find that no government in history is doing more to try and find ways that we can help people who are unemployed back in to work as quickly as possible Gordon Brown PM says 'no clear map' for crisisMandelson warns on protectionism | "Sympathy strikes" spread across the country after workers walked out at the Lindsey Oil Refinery when owner Total gave a £200m contract to Italian firm IREM. You'll find that no government in history is doing more to try and find ways that we can help people who are unemployed back in to work as quickly as possible Gordon Brown PM says 'no clear map' for crisisMandelson warns on protectionism |
| The government has called in independent mediator Acas to look into claims that British workers are being illegally excluded from engineering and construction projects, while unions have urged Mr Brown to meet heads of industry in the sectors as soon as possible. | The government has called in independent mediator Acas to look into claims that British workers are being illegally excluded from engineering and construction projects, while unions have urged Mr Brown to meet heads of industry in the sectors as soon as possible. |
| Speaking from the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Mr Brown told the BBC he understood why people were worried: "They look round and say, well, why can't we do these jobs ourselves." | Speaking from the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Mr Brown told the BBC he understood why people were worried: "They look round and say, well, why can't we do these jobs ourselves." |
| But he said instead of spontaneous strike action, "what we've got to do over time, as I've always said, is that where there are jobs in this country, we need people with the skills, developed in this country". | But he said instead of spontaneous strike action, "what we've got to do over time, as I've always said, is that where there are jobs in this country, we need people with the skills, developed in this country". |
| The prime minister said the government was meeting this challenge by increasing apprenticeships so that the country's skill set would be "ready for the upturn in a more effective way that we were in the past". WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW On BBC One: The Politics Show, 1200, Sunday 1 FebruaryOr watch it for up to seven days on the BBC iPlayer | The prime minister said the government was meeting this challenge by increasing apprenticeships so that the country's skill set would be "ready for the upturn in a more effective way that we were in the past". WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW On BBC One: The Politics Show, 1200, Sunday 1 FebruaryOr watch it for up to seven days on the BBC iPlayer |
| Mr Brown added: "You'll find that no government in history is doing more to try and find ways that we can help people who are unemployed back in to work as quickly as possible." | Mr Brown added: "You'll find that no government in history is doing more to try and find ways that we can help people who are unemployed back in to work as quickly as possible." |
| He also said that even in the current economic climate about two million jobs "change hands every month" and that the country currently had about 500,000 job vacancies. | He also said that even in the current economic climate about two million jobs "change hands every month" and that the country currently had about 500,000 job vacancies. |
| Acas chief executive John Taylor said it was at the initial stages of its investigation into the wildcat strikes originating in Lincolnshire. | Acas chief executive John Taylor said it was at the initial stages of its investigation into the wildcat strikes originating in Lincolnshire. |
| He said: "We hope to start a more detailed investigation on Monday. | He said: "We hope to start a more detailed investigation on Monday. |
| "We'll also be talking to employers and unions regarding a wider inquiry into the issues around 'contracting-out' on large construction projects." | "We'll also be talking to employers and unions regarding a wider inquiry into the issues around 'contracting-out' on large construction projects." |
| The action comes after Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: "It would be a huge mistake to retreat from a policy where within the rules, UK companies can operate in Europe and European companies can operate here.HAVE YOUR SAYIt is a shame that it has come to this, but necessary if this is the only way it will get our Government to put our interests above others. Carrie100, London Send us your comments | The action comes after Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: "It would be a huge mistake to retreat from a policy where within the rules, UK companies can operate in Europe and European companies can operate here.HAVE YOUR SAYIt is a shame that it has come to this, but necessary if this is the only way it will get our Government to put our interests above others. Carrie100, London Send us your comments |
| "Protectionism would be a sure-fire way of turning recession into depression." | "Protectionism would be a sure-fire way of turning recession into depression." |
| However some MPs have said that while the UK retains its European Union (EU) membership, very little could be done to resolve the dispute. | However some MPs have said that while the UK retains its European Union (EU) membership, very little could be done to resolve the dispute. |
| Former welfare minister and Labour MP for Birkenhead, Frank Field said the UK was in a "double arm lock". | Former welfare minister and Labour MP for Birkenhead, Frank Field said the UK was in a "double arm lock". |
| "British workers are being specifically excluded from working on contracts by European contractors - contracts won by European contractors to operate in our very own country," he said. | "British workers are being specifically excluded from working on contracts by European contractors - contracts won by European contractors to operate in our very own country," he said. |
| UKIP leader Nigel Farage also said Acas would be powerless to help because European law barred countries from reserving jobs for its own workers. ENERGY WORKERS' PROTESTS 1. Grangemouth oil refinery, Central Scotland2. Scottish Power's Longannet power station, Fife3. Scottish Power's Cockenzie power station, East Lothian4. Shell gas processing plant, St Fergus, Aberdeenshire5. British Energy power station, Torness, East Lothian6. Mossmorran chemical plant, Fife7. Npower Aberthaw power station, south Wales8. South Hook natural gas terminal, Milton Haven, Pembrokeshire9. ICI chemical refinery at Wilton, Teesside10. Corus steel plant near Redcar, Teesside11. Scottish & Southern's Fiddler's Ferry power station, Cheshire12. AES Kilroot power station, County Antrim13. Marchwood power station, Hampshire Where are protests taking place? | UKIP leader Nigel Farage also said Acas would be powerless to help because European law barred countries from reserving jobs for its own workers. ENERGY WORKERS' PROTESTS 1. Grangemouth oil refinery, Central Scotland2. Scottish Power's Longannet power station, Fife3. Scottish Power's Cockenzie power station, East Lothian4. Shell gas processing plant, St Fergus, Aberdeenshire5. British Energy power station, Torness, East Lothian6. Mossmorran chemical plant, Fife7. Npower Aberthaw power station, south Wales8. South Hook natural gas terminal, Milton Haven, Pembrokeshire9. ICI chemical refinery at Wilton, Teesside10. Corus steel plant near Redcar, Teesside11. Scottish & Southern's Fiddler's Ferry power station, Cheshire12. AES Kilroot power station, County Antrim13. Marchwood power station, Hampshire Where are protests taking place? |
| But Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union, said: "No company should be able to discriminate against anyone on the grounds of where they were born. | But Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union, said: "No company should be able to discriminate against anyone on the grounds of where they were born. |
| "You simply cannot say that only Italians can apply for jobs as has happened in this case. No one is saying that different countries cannot bid for different contracts." | "You simply cannot say that only Italians can apply for jobs as has happened in this case. No one is saying that different countries cannot bid for different contracts." |
| And TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said refinery workers were "rightly angry" at employers denying British-based workers the chance to apply for new jobs. | And TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said refinery workers were "rightly angry" at employers denying British-based workers the chance to apply for new jobs. |
| "The employer will be in breach of the law if they restrict any future vacancies to workers of a particular nationality or location," he added. | "The employer will be in breach of the law if they restrict any future vacancies to workers of a particular nationality or location," he added. |
| Total has said there would be no "direct redundancies" as a result of handing the contract to construct a new unit at the Lindsey plant to the Italian firm, and that the tendering process had been "fair". | Total has said there would be no "direct redundancies" as a result of handing the contract to construct a new unit at the Lindsey plant to the Italian firm, and that the tendering process had been "fair". |
| In a statement, Total said it "recognised" the concerns of contractors, that it had been a major local employer for 40 years and had 550 permanent staff employed at the refinery. | In a statement, Total said it "recognised" the concerns of contractors, that it had been a major local employer for 40 years and had 550 permanent staff employed at the refinery. |
| IREM employs a specialist workforce and its 300 or more employees would be paid the same as existing contractors on the project, Total's bosses added. | IREM employs a specialist workforce and its 300 or more employees would be paid the same as existing contractors on the project, Total's bosses added. |
| Workers have demanded Mr Brown fulfils a promise he made at the 2007 Labour Party conference of providing "British jobs for British workers". | Workers have demanded Mr Brown fulfils a promise he made at the 2007 Labour Party conference of providing "British jobs for British workers". |
| British Nuclear Fuels has also confirmed that 900 contractors at Sellafield station in Cumbria are to meet on Monday to discuss possible industrial action. | British Nuclear Fuels has also confirmed that 900 contractors at Sellafield station in Cumbria are to meet on Monday to discuss possible industrial action. |
| Union leaders and representatives of engineering construction firms and contractors are due to meet in London on Wednesday, under the umbrella name the National Joint Council, in a bid to find a find a resolution. | Union leaders and representatives of engineering construction firms and contractors are due to meet in London on Wednesday, under the umbrella name the National Joint Council, in a bid to find a find a resolution. |