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Wildcat walkout action continues Wildcat walkout action continues
(40 minutes later)
Workers in Scotland are continuing wildcat strike action for a further 24 hours as the row over the use of foreign contractors escalates.Workers in Scotland are continuing wildcat strike action for a further 24 hours as the row over the use of foreign contractors escalates.
It comes after unions have been holding mass meetings with about 2,500 workers. It comes after unions held mass meetings across the country.
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, fresh action has hit the Ineos oil plant at Grangemouth and the Longannet power station.In Scotland, fresh action has hit the Ineos oil plant at Grangemouth and the Longannet power station.
About 400 workers at Longannet, in Fife, voted to stay out on strike for 24 hours and return to hold another mass meeting at 0730 GMT on Tuesday.About 400 workers at Longannet, in Fife, voted to stay out on strike for 24 hours and return to hold another mass meeting at 0730 GMT on Tuesday.
'Staying out''Staying out'
Hugh McGarvey, a shop steward at Longannet, said the vote there reflected solidarity with workers elsewhere.Hugh McGarvey, a shop steward at Longannet, said the vote there reflected solidarity with workers elsewhere.
He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I think the government are planning certain things, although I haven't heard anything definite, I'm sure a lot of guys, like today, wanted to stay out until they get the recommendations that they've asked for."He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I think the government are planning certain things, although I haven't heard anything definite, I'm sure a lot of guys, like today, wanted to stay out until they get the recommendations that they've asked for."
About 300 contractors at the Grangemouth oil refinery, near Falkirk, walked out again on Monday, but agreed to return to work on Tuesday.About 300 contractors at the Grangemouth oil refinery, near Falkirk, walked out again on Monday, but agreed to return to work on Tuesday.
In England, contractors at the Sellafield nuclear site have walked out in support of protests against foreign contractors.In England, contractors at the Sellafield nuclear site have walked out in support of protests against foreign contractors.
Mr Brown says the government will help workers facing redundancyMr Brown says the government will help workers facing redundancy
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the wildcat strikes were "not defensible" and Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy called on unions not to "escalate" the dispute.Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the wildcat strikes were "not defensible" and Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy called on unions not to "escalate" the dispute.
The government has said it might challenge EU law to stop cheap foreign labour "undercutting" British workers.The government has said it might challenge EU law to stop cheap foreign labour "undercutting" British workers.
This would need the agreement of other member states and could take years to get through and the Liberal Democrats warned challenging EU labour laws would be a "huge, self-defeating step too far".This would need the agreement of other member states and could take years to get through and the Liberal Democrats warned challenging EU labour laws would be a "huge, self-defeating step too far".
The walkouts were sparked after bosses at the Lindsey oil refinery brought in Italian and Portuguese contractors.The walkouts were sparked 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.
The dispute quickly spread to sites across the country, with about 1,400 workers staging action in Scotland on Friday.The dispute quickly spread to sites across the country, with about 1,400 workers staging action in Scotland on Friday.
Hundreds of staff walked out at Grangemouth, Longannet in Fife and Cockenzie in East Lothian.Hundreds of staff walked out at Grangemouth, Longannet in Fife and Cockenzie 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.
Contractors also downed tools on Friday at the St Fergus gas terminal int Peterhead, British Energy's Torness facility, the ExxonMobil ethylene plant at Mossmorran in Fife, and the Shell plant at Mossmorran.Contractors also downed tools on Friday at the St Fergus gas terminal int Peterhead, British Energy's Torness facility, the ExxonMobil ethylene plant at Mossmorran in Fife, and the Shell plant at Mossmorran.