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Sacked oil staff to burn letters | Sacked oil staff to burn letters |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Workers at the Lindsey oil refinery, sacked for taking unofficial strike action, have pledged to burn their dismissal letters in a mass protest. | Workers at the Lindsey oil refinery, sacked for taking unofficial strike action, have pledged to burn their dismissal letters in a mass protest. |
Their act of defiance is due to be held near the refinery later. | Their act of defiance is due to be held near the refinery later. |
Total, which runs the facility in North Lincolnshire, sacked 650 construction workers, giving them until Monday evening to reapply for their jobs. | Total, which runs the facility in North Lincolnshire, sacked 650 construction workers, giving them until Monday evening to reapply for their jobs. |
Last week the firm was accused of pulling out of talks with unions at the conciliation service Acas. | Last week the firm was accused of pulling out of talks with unions at the conciliation service Acas. |
The GMB union is organising a demonstration on Tuesday in protest at what it is says is Total's refusal to take part in peace talks. | The GMB union is organising a demonstration on Tuesday in protest at what it is says is Total's refusal to take part in peace talks. |
The GMB is not walking away from the disgraceful and outrageous behaviour of Total GMB General secretary Paul Kenny | The GMB is not walking away from the disgraceful and outrageous behaviour of Total GMB General secretary Paul Kenny |
Last week hundreds of construction workers at other refineries and power stations walked out in sympathy with the sacked Lindsey workers. They may join the mass rally on Tuesday. | Last week hundreds of construction workers at other refineries and power stations walked out in sympathy with the sacked Lindsey workers. They may join the mass rally on Tuesday. |
Total sacked the 650 staff after they took part in industrial action following a dispute over jobs. | Total sacked the 650 staff after they took part in industrial action following a dispute over jobs. |
General secretary of the GMB Paul Kenny said: "The GMB is not walking away from the disgraceful and outrageous behaviour of Total. | General secretary of the GMB Paul Kenny said: "The GMB is not walking away from the disgraceful and outrageous behaviour of Total. |
"We will support the locked-out and victimised workers and will demonstrate our support with peaceful and lawful protests." | "We will support the locked-out and victimised workers and will demonstrate our support with peaceful and lawful protests." |
Job cuts | Job cuts |
Mr Kenny called on Total to meet the unions as soon as possible to try to end the dispute. | Mr Kenny called on Total to meet the unions as soon as possible to try to end the dispute. |
Activists have said they expect thousands of workers to take action in the coming days in support of the sacked workers. | Activists have said they expect thousands of workers to take action in the coming days in support of the sacked workers. |
Workers in Teesside, South Wales, Cheshire and Yorkshire were among those who came out in support last week. | Workers in Teesside, South Wales, Cheshire and Yorkshire were among those who came out in support last week. |
The sacked Lindsey workers had been building another plant next to the existing site in Killingholme, 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 sacked Lindsey workers had been building another plant next to the existing site in Killingholme, 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 workers argued this broke an agreement not to cut jobs while there were vacancies elsewhere on the site. Total insists no such agreement was in place. | The workers argued this broke an agreement not to cut jobs while there were vacancies elsewhere on the site. Total insists no such agreement was in place. |
Workers say the assurances were given in February following a bitter dispute in which they said foreign labour was being used to exclude British contractors and to undermine hard-won conditions. | Workers say the assurances were given in February following a bitter dispute in which they said foreign labour was being used to exclude British contractors and to undermine hard-won conditions. |
The foreign workers row led to to a wave of unofficial strikes and protests at refineries and power stations across the UK. | The foreign workers row led to to a wave of unofficial strikes and protests at refineries and power stations across the UK. |
Are you an employee or contractor at Lindsey Oil Refinery? Have you gone on strike in support of the sacked Lindsey workers? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you an employee or contractor at Lindsey Oil Refinery? Have you gone on strike in support of the sacked Lindsey workers? 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 |