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Refinery talks over labour action Second day of labour row walkout
(about 2 hours later)
Contract workers at two oil refineries are holding meetings to decide whether to continue a walkout in a dispute over the use of foreign labour. About 600 workers at two oil refineries have started a second day of unofficial action in a dispute over the use of foreign labour.
Hundreds of workers at the North Lincolnshire ConocoPhillips and Lindsey oil refineries started the unofficial action on Tuesday. Contract workers at the ConocoPhillips and Lindsey oil refineries in North Lincolnshire walked out on Tuesday and have voted to continue the action.
They walked out in support of striking workers at South Hook liquefied natural gas site in Wales. They are supporting striking workers at South Hook liquefied natural gas site in Wales.
The contractor there said it had tried to find local skilled labour.The contractor there said it had tried to find local skilled labour.
Hertel UK managing director David Fitzsimons, said the firm had been unable to source skilled people for the start of the project. The North Lincolnshire workers decided to continue their walkout at meetings on Wednesday morning.
'Not tolerated' Contract workers from across the UK took part in a similar action in January and February over a £200m construction contract at Lindsey Oil Refinery being given to an Italian firm.
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. Contractor 'regret'
Tony Ryan, a steward at Lindsey Oil refinery, told the BBC: "They [the South Hook workers] came out in support of us in February and we are doing the same.
"They are suffering the same hardship as we suffered in February and the same discrimination and they have asked for our support and we are giving it fully."
Mr Ryan said the action could last days or weeks.
The ConocoPhillips site employs 750 people. Pic courtesy of ConocoPhillips
But he added: "They [the South Hook workers] are hoping for talks with management and hopefully they'll see sense and they'll start employing British labour."
Hertel UK, the contractor for the South Hook site, said it had been unable to source skilled people for the start of the project.
Managing director David Fitzsimons 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.
"This is a short term project and our involvement will be for approximately three months. We have agreed with union officials that we will hire local skilled personnel once they are identified."This is a short term project and our involvement will be for approximately three months. We have agreed with union officials that we will hire local skilled personnel once they are identified.
"I regret that this situation has escalated. We understand people's concerns and we have engaged in detailed discussions with trade union national officials and local representatives.""I regret that this situation has escalated. We understand people's concerns and we have engaged in detailed discussions with trade union national officials and local representatives."
More than 200 staff at the Fiddlers Ferry power station in Widnes, Cheshire, also stopped work on Tuesday. ConocoPhillips said the action had not affected operations at the site and it looked forward to "the situation being resolved as soon as possible".
Kenny Ward, from the Unite union, said: "The problem we have is for the employers to listen to the members and to the workers of this country that this behaviour, this practice to undermine the citizens of this country, the ability to have access to work will not be tolerated any more."
Similar action took place in January over a £200m construction contract at Lindsey Oil Refinery being given to an Italian firm.