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Refinery jobs walkout talks fail | Refinery jobs walkout talks fail |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Talks aimed at resolving a dispute that started a wildcat strike at a North Lincolnshire oil refinery have failed. | Talks aimed at resolving a dispute that started a wildcat strike at a North Lincolnshire oil refinery have failed. |
About 1,200 workers at the Lindsey Oil Refinery continued their unofficial strike for a third day on Monday. | About 1,200 workers at the Lindsey Oil Refinery continued their unofficial strike for a third day on Monday. |
The workers withdrew their labour last week in protest at a sub-contractor cutting 51 jobs while another employer on the site was hiring workers. | The workers withdrew their labour last week in protest at a sub-contractor cutting 51 jobs while another employer on the site was hiring workers. |
Up to 140 contractors at Fiddlers Ferry Power Station in Widnes, Cheshire, have walked out in support. | |
In a statement, David Porter, director at subcontractors AE&E Lentjes said: "[A total of] 140 Lentjes staff walked out of Fiddlers Ferry Power Station at 1.30pm today in support of colleagues at the Lindsey Oil Refinery. | |
"They are electricians, insulators and scaffolders and will hold another meeting at 8am tomorrow to decide whether or not to return to work." | |
Commenting earlier, Lindsey Oil Refinery owner Total said it was "frustrated" talks had broken down and called for an end to the "illegal walkout". | |
The company said the refinery was operating normally and was not affected by the action. | The company said the refinery was operating normally and was not affected by the action. |
Conciliation move | Conciliation move |
"We are extremely disappointed and frustrated that our contractor workforce... has decided not to return to work," Total said in a statement. | "We are extremely disappointed and frustrated that our contractor workforce... has decided not to return to work," Total said in a statement. |
"The contractor workforce was asked to return to work and end the illegal walkout at a meeting between contractor management and union representatives this morning. | "The contractor workforce was asked to return to work and end the illegal walkout at a meeting between contractor management and union representatives this morning. |
"The contractor workforce decided to continue the unofficial action." | "The contractor workforce decided to continue the unofficial action." |
The company said there would be a further meeting with GMB union officials and contractor management on Tuesday morning. | The company said there would be a further meeting with GMB union officials and contractor management on Tuesday morning. |
"We are keen to clarify the demands of the contractor workforce so we can resolve the situation as soon as possible," it said. | "We are keen to clarify the demands of the contractor workforce so we can resolve the situation as soon as possible," it said. |
The conciliation service Acas is believed to have been asked to attend talks on Tuesday in a bid to resolve the dispute. | The conciliation service Acas is believed to have been asked to attend talks on Tuesday in a bid to resolve the dispute. |
Meanwhile, the strikers are expected to go home and return for another mass meeting on Tuesday morning. | Meanwhile, the strikers are expected to go home and return for another mass meeting on Tuesday morning. |
The refinery was hit by unofficial action earlier this year in a row over the recruitment of non-UK workers. | The refinery was hit by unofficial action earlier this year in a row over the recruitment of non-UK workers. |
The site at Killingholme employs 550 staff and has up to 1,000 contract workers at any time. | The site at Killingholme employs 550 staff and has up to 1,000 contract workers at any time. |
The staff who walked out were contract workers. | The staff who walked out were contract workers. |
The GMB union claimed the workers affected by the latest job cuts were being victimised for striking earlier this year. | The GMB union claimed the workers affected by the latest job cuts were being victimised for striking earlier this year. |