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Second day of 'labour row' action Second day of 'labour row' action
(41 minutes later)
About 120 workers are picketing outside a liquefied natural gas terminal in Pembrokeshire in an unofficial dispute over the use of foreign labour.About 120 workers are picketing outside a liquefied natural gas terminal in Pembrokeshire in an unofficial dispute over the use of foreign labour.
On Tuesday a number of contract workers walked off South Hook LNG site with hundreds following suit at other sites. Power plant workers in the Vale of Glamorgan are also meeting to see whether to back the action at South Hook LNG in Milford Haven
Unions said the unofficial action was being taken because preference had not been given to local labour. The action is over preference not being given to local labour, say unions.
Representatives from the GMB union said they have failed to reach an agreement with contractors Hertel UK. The company running the site Hertel UK said it regretted the situation had escalated.
South Hook workers are being supported in the action for a second day by colleagues from the nearby Dragon LNG plant. South Hook workers are being supported in the action for a second day by colleagues at the Dragon LNG plant in Milford Haven.
Around 100 workers at the Aberthaw Power Station in the Vale of Glamorgan are also meeting to see whether they will support strike action again.
The walk out started on Tuesday with 50 laggers at South Hook LNG in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire.The walk out started on Tuesday with 50 laggers at South Hook LNG in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire.
The terminal, which imports gas from the Middle East, was officially opened by the Queen last week.The terminal, which imports gas from the Middle East, was officially opened by the Queen last week.
Skilled workers The only reason we're here is they all feel let down like the site agreement has always been local and British labour first Union shop steward Jason Smith
Workers also walked out in sympathy at plants as far afield as Vale of Glamorgan, Lincolnshire and Widnes. On Tuesday, workers also walked out in sympathy at plants as far afield as Vale of Glamorgan, Lincolnshire and Widnes.
Hertel UK managing director David Fitzsimons said the company employed more than 3,500 UK personnel, including 150 apprentices and trainees.Hertel UK managing director David Fitzsimons said the company employed more than 3,500 UK personnel, including 150 apprentices and trainees.
He said they had looked to employ local labour but had been unable to find skilled people for the start of the project.He said they had looked to employ local labour but had been unable to find skilled people for the start of the project.
"As a result, we subcontracted the works to a third party which also employs non-UK labour and was also engaged on phase 1 of this project in 2008," he said."As a result, we subcontracted the works to a third party which also employs non-UK labour and was also engaged on phase 1 of this project in 2008," he said.
But Mr Fitzsimons said it was short term project and they would be involved for approximately three months. He said the company had agreed with union officials that they would hire local skilled personnel once they are identified.But Mr Fitzsimons said it was short term project and they would be involved for approximately three months. He said the company had agreed with union officials that they would hire local skilled personnel once they are identified.
"I regret that this situation has escalated," he added."I regret that this situation has escalated," he added.
"We understand people's concerns and we have engaged in detailed discussions with trade union national officials and local representatives.""We understand people's concerns and we have engaged in detailed discussions with trade union national officials and local representatives."
Hertel and its sub-contractors said they complied with national frameworks on terms and conditions for workers.Hertel and its sub-contractors said they complied with national frameworks on terms and conditions for workers.
Workers at Aberthaw also demonstrated in JanuaryWorkers at Aberthaw also demonstrated in January
On Tuesday Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB, said his union was making urgent inquiries into the cause of the dispute. Union shop steward Jason Smith said the site agreement has been broken.
He said: "We understand that an agreement to give work on these large projects to local labour has been breached." "Up until now it has always been local or British labour and once there's a shortfall of labour within Britain that they top up with EU workers which has worked perfectly on this site for this last two and a half years, because like I said some of this Polish labour has been here before and it has worked fine.
Mr Kenny added: "There is widespread anger and outrage at repeated attempts in different projects around the country to exclude local people from job opportunities on these projects. "But now the other firm that has come on the site has specifically said that they are only going to employ Polish labour on this phase two of the job and this is why it has got everybody's backs up."
"The political spotlight needs to be turned on these companies so that discriminatory employment practices cease immediately. Mr Smith also dispute the company's claim that they had tried to employ local labour first.
Laggers and thermal insulation engineers working as contractors walked out at Aberthaw power station in the Vale of Glamorgan and workers also walked out at Dragon LNG site, a few miles away in Milford Haven. "There is work that has come to an end on the Dragon site, and probably other sites around Britain, which surely they should have been able to apply for a job here and the way they see it they haven't," he said.
There was also sympathy for the action from workers in England, with around 400 workers at plants in Widnes and north Lincolnshire walking out. "The only reason we're here is they (the workers) all feel let down.
"The site agreement has always been local and British labour first."