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Second day of 'labour row' action More walkouts over foreign staff
(about 2 hours later)
About 200 workers are picketing outside a liquefied natural gas terminal in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire in an unofficial dispute over foreign labour. Thousands of people across the UK have walked out in support of 200 workers picketing outside a liquefied natural gas terminal in Pembrokeshire.
Hundreds at an oil refinery in north Lincolnshire have walked out in support of the strike at South Hook LNG. The dispute at Milford Haven is unofficial action over foreign labour.
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. Thousands at two oil refineries in north Lincolnshire have walked out in support of the South Hook LNG strike.
The company running the site said it regretted the situation had escalated. Workers in the Vale of Glamorgan and Cheshire are also considering action. The firm running South Hook said it regretted the situation had escalated.
South Hook workers are being supported in the action for a second day by colleagues at the Dragon LNG plant in Milford Haven.South Hook workers are being supported in the action for a second day by colleagues at the Dragon LNG plant in Milford Haven.
Hundreds of workers have also walked out of the Conoco oil refineries in Northern Lincolnshire for a second day. Union officials say about 2,500 workers have walked out of two refineries at North Killingholme, Northern Lincolnshire, in support of the South Hook action.
Around 200 workers at the Aberthaw Power Station in the Vale of Glamorgan are also meeting to see whether they will support strike action again. They say the protest will carry on until the situation in Milford Haven is resolved.
Around 200 workers at Aberthaw Power Station held a meeting
North Killingholme is where hundreds of workers went on strike in February in a row over the use of Italian and Portuguese workers.
Strikers on site have told the BBC that roads in the area - including the A160 - have been blocked by protestors
They also claim that no vehicles are entering or leaving the two refineries operated by Total and Conoco.
Around 200 workers at the Aberthaw Power Station in the Vale of Glamorgan have held a meeting to see whether they will support strike action again.
The meeting ended at 0900 BST but it is unclear if they have left the site or returned to work.
Meanwhile, Frank Willmitt, the GMB shop steward at Fiddler's Ferry power plant in Warrington, Cheshire, said workers are meeting at 1030 BST to discuss whether to walk out in support of workers at South Hook.
He said it is "highly likely they will walk out" again.
They had returned earlier this morning after a similar walkout on Tuesday.
Opened by Queen
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.
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
On Tuesday, 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."
Hertel and its sub-contractors said they complied with national frameworks on terms and conditions for workers.
Workers at Aberthaw also demonstrated in January
Union shop steward Jason Smith said the site agreement has been broken.
"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.
"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."
Mr Smith also dispute the company's claim that they had tried to employ local labour first.
"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.
"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."