This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/humber/8108434.stm
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| 900 workers sacked at oil plant | 900 workers sacked at oil plant |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Nearly 900 workers at the Lindsey oil refinery have been sacked, following unofficial strike action at the plant. | Nearly 900 workers at the Lindsey oil refinery have been sacked, following unofficial strike action at the plant. |
| About 1,200 contract workers walked out last week in a dispute over 51 redundancies. They claim an agreement not to cut 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 cut any jobs had been broken. |
| Total, who own the Lincolnshire plant, say no such agreement was in place. | Total, who own the Lincolnshire plant, say no such agreement was in place. |
| Managers had asked staff to return to work, but on Thursday night they confirmed "with regret" that hundreds had been sacked. | Managers had asked staff to return to work, but on Thursday night they confirmed "with regret" that hundreds had been sacked. |
| A spokesman for Unite said: "We are extremely concerned about the ramifications of the employer's actions. | A spokesman for Unite said: "We are extremely concerned about the ramifications of the employer's 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." |
| The sacked workers were taking part in the construction of a new plant beside the existing Lindsey site. | The sacked workers were taking part in the construction of a new plant beside the existing Lindsey site. |
| 'Illegal' | 'Illegal' |
| The action at Lindsey has spread to other power stations at Drax and Eggborough in Yorkshire and Ratcliffe in Nottinghamshire, and BP's Saltend refinery near Hull. | The action at Lindsey has spread to other power stations at Drax and Eggborough in Yorkshire and 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 at the BOC oxygen plant at Scunthorpe, Fiddlers Ferry in Cheshire and Aberthaw in south Wales. | |
| The BBC's correspondent Danny Savage said there would be an angry reaction - and potentially further industrial unrest - at other plants following the Lindsey sackings. | |
| The Lindsey workers withdrew their labour in protest at a sub-contractor axing 51 jobs while another employer on the site was hiring people. | The Lindsey workers withdrew their labour in protest at a sub-contractor axing 51 jobs while another employer on the site was hiring people. |
| 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. |
| "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. |
| The company said it had "repeatedly sought to encourage the workforce to return to work so that proper negotiations can take place". | The company 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. |
| The Lindsey refinery is owned by French company Total | |
| "It is frustrating and disappointing that these attempts have failed." | "It is frustrating and disappointing that these attempts have failed." |
| 'Normal practice' | 'Normal practice' |
| Total said any contract staff who wanted to return to the site could reapply for positions until 22 June. | Total said any contract staff who wanted to return to the site could reapply for positions until 22 June. |
| 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. |
| Following the news of the sackings, a representative of Unite said staff had believed there was a local agreement in place not to cut any jobs while those foreign contactors were employed. | Following the news of the sackings, a representative of Unite said staff had believed there was a local agreement in place not to cut any jobs while those foreign contactors were employed. |
| 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 |