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Mass meetings on wildcat walkouts Mass meetings on wildcat walkouts
(about 6 hours later)
Union leaders in Scotland expect about 2,500 workers to attend mass meetings later as part of the continuing dispute over the use of foreign workers.Union leaders in Scotland expect about 2,500 workers to attend mass meetings later as part of the continuing dispute over the use of foreign workers.
Thousands of workers across the UK staged unofficial walkouts on Friday over the use of foreign staff at a Lincolnshire refinery.Thousands of workers across the UK staged unofficial walkouts on Friday over the use of foreign staff at a Lincolnshire refinery.
In Scotland, the Ineos oil plant at Grangemouth and power stations at Longannet and Cockenzie were affected.In Scotland, the Ineos oil plant at Grangemouth and power stations at Longannet and Cockenzie were affected.
Bobby Buirds of the Unite union warned that peace could be a distant prospect.Bobby Buirds of the Unite union warned that peace could be a distant prospect.
He said: "I can't say one way or the other whether there's going to be further action and if the lads believe things are developing to their benefit, there might be a change of heart but I don't see that at the moment."He said: "I can't say one way or the other whether there's going to be further action and if the lads believe things are developing to their benefit, there might be a change of heart but I don't see that at the moment."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the wildcat strikes were "not defensible".Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the wildcat strikes were "not defensible".
And Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy called on unions not to "escalate" the dispute.And Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy called on unions not to "escalate" the dispute.
The walkouts began after bosses at the Lindsey oil refinery brought in Italian and Portuguese contractors.The walkouts began after bosses at the Lindsey oil refinery brought in Italian and Portuguese contractors.
Unions said the jobs should have gone to British workers.Unions said the jobs should have gone to British workers.
About 700 workers from the Ineos oil refinery at Grangemouth joined the protest on Friday. About 300 workers from the Ineos oil refinery at Grangemouth joined the protest on Friday.
They were followed by about 500 from the power station at Longannet in Fife and about 100 from Cockenzie power station in East Lothian.They were followed by about 500 from the power station at Longannet in Fife and about 100 from Cockenzie power station in East Lothian.
Scottish Power said the walkout did not affect operations at either of the sites and that it was meeting senior members of all contractors to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.Scottish Power said the walkout did not affect operations at either of the sites and that it was meeting senior members of all contractors to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
Shell said about 180 contractors at the St Fergus gas terminal at Peterhead had stopped work, while at British Energy's Torness facility, about 80 workers have downed tools.Shell said about 180 contractors at the St Fergus gas terminal at Peterhead had stopped work, while at British Energy's Torness facility, about 80 workers have downed tools.
According to ExxonMobil, 40 workers contracted to Deborah Services Limited (DSL) have gone on strike at its ethylene plant at Mossmorran in Fife, along with colleagues at the Shell plant at Mossmorran.According to ExxonMobil, 40 workers contracted to Deborah Services Limited (DSL) have gone on strike at its ethylene plant at Mossmorran in Fife, along with colleagues at the Shell plant at Mossmorran.