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| Total sacks 900 oil plant workers | Total sacks 900 oil plant workers |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Nearly 900 workers constructing a new plant at the Lindsey oil refinery in Lincolnshire have been sacked, following unofficial strike action. | Nearly 900 workers constructing a new plant at the Lindsey oil refinery in Lincolnshire have been sacked, following unofficial strike action. |
| About 1,200 contract workers walked out last week in a dispute over 51 redundancies. They claim an agreement not to axe any jobs had been broken. | About 1,200 contract workers walked out last week in a dispute over 51 redundancies. They claim an agreement not to axe any jobs had been broken. |
| Total, which owns the plant, said no such agreement was in place. | Total, which owns the plant, said no such agreement was in place. |
| Managers had asked staff to return to work, but late on Thursday confirmed "with regret" hundreds had been sacked. | Managers had asked staff to return to work, but late on Thursday confirmed "with regret" hundreds had been sacked. |
| A group has gathered outside the main gates of the Lindsey refinery, waving placards in protest. | |
| 'Sympathy strikes' | 'Sympathy strikes' |
| A Unite spokesman said: "We are extremely concerned about the ramifications of the employers' actions. | A Unite spokesman said: "We are extremely concerned about the ramifications of the employers' actions. |
| "We are urging all parties to get back around the negotiating table to resolve this situation." | "We are urging all parties to get back around the negotiating table to resolve this situation." |
| GMB general secretary Paul Kenney backed the call, saying: "Total have not tried to resolve this dispute, they sought to escalate it and they have sought to victimise people. | GMB general secretary Paul Kenney backed the call, saying: "Total have not tried to resolve this dispute, they sought to escalate it and they have sought to victimise people. |
| "I'm appealing to Total to actually come to the table and help the unions resolve it." | "I'm appealing to Total to actually come to the table and help the unions resolve it." |
| The action at Lindsey had spread over the past few days to other power stations at Drax and Eggborough in Yorkshire, Ratcliffe in Nottinghamshire and BP's Saltend refinery, near Hull. | The action at Lindsey had spread over the past few days to other power stations at Drax and Eggborough in Yorkshire, Ratcliffe in Nottinghamshire and BP's Saltend refinery, near Hull. |
| Negotiations over illegal strikes cannot commence until the workforce has returned to work Total statement | Negotiations over illegal strikes cannot commence until the workforce has returned to work Total statement |
| Workers have also walked out at the BOC oxygen plant at Scunthorpe, Fiddlers Ferry in Cheshire and Aberthaw in south Wales. | Workers have also walked out at the BOC oxygen plant at Scunthorpe, Fiddlers Ferry in Cheshire and Aberthaw in south Wales. |
| Reports suggest workers at various sites across the country have walked out in sympathy again after hearing news of the Lindsey sackings. | Reports suggest workers at various sites across the country have walked out in sympathy again after hearing news of the Lindsey sackings. |
| Text messages are reportedly being sent to workers to encourage them to take action. | Text messages are reportedly being sent to workers to encourage them to take action. |
| One of the sacked Lindsey workers told the Press Association: "We are asking for support from workers across the country which I am sure will be given. Total will soon realise they have unleashed a monster. | One of the sacked Lindsey workers told the Press Association: "We are asking for support from workers across the country which I am sure will be given. Total will soon realise they have unleashed a monster. |
| "It is disgraceful that this has happened without any consultation. It is also unlawful and it makes me feel sick." | "It is disgraceful that this has happened without any consultation. It is also unlawful and it makes me feel sick." |
| Another sacked contract worker, John McEwan, said: "We were left no option. | Another sacked contract worker, John McEwan, said: "We were left no option. |
| "If we have to defend the rights of our men on these sites and our pay and conditions then we have to do that." | "If we have to defend the rights of our men on these sites and our pay and conditions then we have to do that." |
| The Lindsey workers had been building a new plant next to the existing site, but withdrew their labour last week in protest at a sub-contractor axing 51 jobs while another employer on the site was hiring people. | The Lindsey workers had been building a new plant next to the existing site, but withdrew their labour last week in protest at a sub-contractor axing 51 jobs while another employer on the site was hiring people. |
| The BBC's Paul Murphy, who is at the scene, said: "The workers believe that the sacked workers should have been transferred to those new jobs and they were not." | The BBC's Paul Murphy, who is at the scene, said: "The workers believe that the sacked workers should have been transferred to those new jobs and they were not." |
| 'Frustrating' | 'Frustrating' |
| Planned talks between unions and employers aimed at breaking the deadlock stalled on Tuesday. | Planned talks between unions and employers aimed at breaking the deadlock stalled on Tuesday. |
| In a statement, Total said the workers had been involved in "an unofficial, illegal walk out" that was "repudiated" by both Unite and the GMB union. | In a statement, Total said the workers had been involved in "an unofficial, illegal walk out" that was "repudiated" by both Unite and the GMB union. |
| The Lindsey refinery is owned by French company Total | The Lindsey refinery is owned by French company Total |
| "Total can confirm, with regret, that our contractors have now started the process of ending the current employment contracts for their workforce on the HDS-3 construction project," the company said. | "Total can confirm, with regret, that our contractors have now started the process of ending the current employment contracts for their workforce on the HDS-3 construction project," the company said. |
| Total said it had "repeatedly sought to encourage the workforce to return to work so that proper negotiations can take place". | Total said it had "repeatedly sought to encourage the workforce to return to work so that proper negotiations can take place". |
| "This is in line with the union and industry agreed process that negotiations over illegal strikes cannot commence until the workforce has returned to work. | "This is in line with the union and industry agreed process that negotiations over illegal strikes cannot commence until the workforce has returned to work. |
| "It is frustrating and disappointing that these attempts have failed." | "It is frustrating and disappointing that these attempts have failed." |
| Total said any contract staff who wanted to return to the site could reapply for positions until Monday. | Total said any contract staff who wanted to return to the site could reapply for positions until Monday. |
| The construction project will remain closed in the meantime. | The construction project will remain closed in the meantime. |
| Total added that the 51 disputed redundancies were necessary because the relevant part of the project had been completed. | Total added that the 51 disputed redundancies were necessary because the relevant part of the project had been completed. |
| "That is the nature of the construction industry and is normal industry practice," it said. | "That is the nature of the construction industry and is normal industry practice," it said. |
| The Lindsey refinery suffered strikes earlier this year over the employment of non-UK workers. | The Lindsey refinery suffered strikes earlier this year over the employment of non-UK workers. |
| Are you an employee or contractor at Lindsey Oil Refinery? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you an employee or contractor at Lindsey Oil Refinery? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |