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'Talks planned' over refinery row 'Talks planned' over refinery row
(40 minutes later)
Union officials have told the BBC they are due to meet contractors later to hold talks over the sacking of 647 workers at the Lindsey oil refinery.Union officials have told the BBC they are due to meet contractors later to hold talks over the sacking of 647 workers at the Lindsey oil refinery.
Les Bayliss, from Unite, said a meeting was planned for Tuesday afternoon, but unless the workers were reinstated there would be "a continued problem".Les Bayliss, from Unite, said a meeting was planned for Tuesday afternoon, but unless the workers were reinstated there would be "a continued problem".
The owners of the North Lincolnshire site, Total, said earlier they were encouraging talks between the parties.The owners of the North Lincolnshire site, Total, said earlier they were encouraging talks between the parties.
The workers were sacked last week after staging unofficial strikes.The workers were sacked last week after staging unofficial strikes.
Since then some 3,000 staff at other sites around the UK have walked out in support.Since then some 3,000 staff at other sites around the UK have walked out in support.
The plants affected include Sellafield in Cumbria, Longannet Power Station in Fife and South Hook in Milford Haven.The plants affected include Sellafield in Cumbria, Longannet Power Station in Fife and South Hook in Milford Haven.
'Continued problem'
The Lindsey workers first withdrew their labour on 11 June in protest at a sub-contractor axing 51 jobs while another employer on the site was hiring people.The Lindsey workers first withdrew their labour on 11 June in protest at a sub-contractor axing 51 jobs while another employer on the site was hiring people.
Protests have taken place at the plant since the 647 sackings and on Tuesday morning as many as 500 men waving placards picketed the gates in a demonstration organised by the GMB union. UNREST AT LINDSEY REFINERY 28 Jan: Workers walk out over use of foreign labour5 Feb: Strikers vote to return to work after deal is struck19 May: Workers strike over use of non-local labour in Wales21 May: They return to work11 June: Workers walk out over job losses15 June: Talks aimed at resolving the dispute fail16 June: Deadlock over proposed further peace talks19 June: Nearly 650 workers are sacked
Top of that agenda is the reinstatement of the people that have been sacked Les Bayliss, Unite On Tuesday morning, French company Total released a statement saying it was "actively encouraging" talks to "facilitate the return to work of its contracting companies' former workforces".
At the same time, French company Total released a statement saying it was "actively encouraging" talks to "facilitate the return to work of its contracting companies' former workforces".
Previously it had said that talks could only take place if the striking workers, employed by a sub-contractor company called Jacobs, returned to their jobs.Previously it had said that talks could only take place if the striking workers, employed by a sub-contractor company called Jacobs, returned to their jobs.
Mr Bayliss, who is assistant general secretary of Unite, said a meeting was due to take place in London on Tuesday afternoon.Mr Bayliss, who is assistant general secretary of Unite, said a meeting was due to take place in London on Tuesday afternoon.
It will bring together representatives from Jacobs and another sub-contractor Shaw, but Total will not be involved.It will bring together representatives from Jacobs and another sub-contractor Shaw, but Total will not be involved.
"We're confident that we can find a mechanism to get a return to work, but... I've made it clear from Unite's position that top of that agenda is the reinstatement of the people that have been sacked," he said."We're confident that we can find a mechanism to get a return to work, but... I've made it clear from Unite's position that top of that agenda is the reinstatement of the people that have been sacked," he said.
"So unless that issue is dealt with then we're going to have a continued problem.""So unless that issue is dealt with then we're going to have a continued problem."
The reality is, Total call the shots Paul Kenny, GMB
A Unite spokesman said members of the Engineering and Construction Industry Association would also take part in the meeting, but talks would not be constructive until the sacked staff were reinstated.A Unite spokesman said members of the Engineering and Construction Industry Association would also take part in the meeting, but talks would not be constructive until the sacked staff were reinstated.
Protests have taken place at the plant since the sackings and on Tuesday morning about 1,000 men waving placards picketed the gates in a demonstration organised by the GMB union.
Total 'in control'
The BBC's Paul Murphy, who is at the refinery, said Total had insisted that calling for talks was all it could do because Jacobs was a sub-contractor and therefore Total had no legal responsibility for the employment of the men.
But general secretary of the GMB union, Paul Kenny, said Total had far more control over the situation than it was admitting.
"The reality is, Total call the shots," he told the BBC. "If they tell the contractors, 'Settle this dispute,' it'll be settled.
"The reason that those dismissal notices were issued was because Total wanted them to be."
The GMB also reiterated its plan to hold a national ballot for strike action among tens of thousands of its members employed in the mechanical engineering sector.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
Meanwhile, the GMB union reiterated its plan to hold a national ballot for strike action among tens of thousands of its members employed in the mechanical engineering sector.
Total said discussions "should focus on getting the project back up and running within the agreed timeframe and budget".Total said discussions "should focus on getting the project back up and running within the agreed timeframe and budget".
"There is no question of a reduction in pay or dilution of existing terms and conditions," it added."There is no question of a reduction in pay or dilution of existing terms and conditions," it added.
The sacked workers had been employed on a project known as HDS-3 to build a new site alongside the existing Lindsey plant.The sacked workers had been employed on a project known as HDS-3 to build a new site alongside the existing Lindsey plant.
Total said the project was now six months behind schedule and that delays had already cost "in the region of an additional 100 million euros".Total said the project was now six months behind schedule and that delays had already cost "in the region of an additional 100 million euros".
Bob Emmerson, from the company, told the BBC the row could jeopardise the long-term future of the plant.Bob Emmerson, from the company, told the BBC the row could jeopardise the long-term future of the plant.
"It's about safeguarding the future of the refinery and the jobs that go with it over the next few years," he said."It's about safeguarding the future of the refinery and the jobs that go with it over the next few years," he said.
"Without talks with our workers this project cannot continue and it does put its future on thin ice.""Without talks with our workers this project cannot continue and it does put its future on thin ice."
UNREST AT LINDSEY REFINERY 28 Jan: Workers walk out over use of foreign labour5 Feb: Strikers vote to return to work after deal is struck19 May: Workers strike over use of non-local labour in Wales21 May: They return to work11 June: Workers walk out over job losses15 June: Talks aimed at resolving the dispute fail16 June: Deadlock over proposed further peace talks19 June: Nearly 650 workers are sacked
Foreign workers
The company said it expected to hear by the end of the week how many contract workers had chosen to return.The company said it expected to hear by the end of the week how many contract workers had chosen to return.
The BBC's Paul Murphy, who is at the refinery, said Total had insisted that calling for talks was all it could do because Jacobs was a sub-contractor and therefore Total had no legal responsibility for the employment of the men. Foreign workers
A number of other sites were affected by sympathy strikes on Tuesday:A number of other sites were affected by sympathy strikes on Tuesday:
  • At Longannet Power Station, the majority of the 150 contract workers who walked out on Monday voted to do so again
  • Up to 300 contractors took action at Aberthaw power station in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales
  • Some 200 people downed tools at Drax and Eggborough power stations near Selby, North Yorkshire
  • Refinery owner Ensus said some of its 1,100 workers on Teesside had walked out, but the exact number was unclear.
  • At Longannet Power Station, the majority of the 150 contract workers who walked out on Monday voted to do so again
  • Up to 300 contractors took action at Aberthaw power station in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales
  • Some 200 people downed tools at Drax and Eggborough power stations near Selby, North Yorkshire
  • Refinery owner Ensus said some of its 1,100 workers on Teesside had walked out, but the exact number was unclear.
The Lindsey workers are accusing bosses of breaking an agreement not to cut jobs while there are vacancies elsewhere on the site. Total insists no such agreement was in place.The Lindsey workers are accusing bosses of breaking an agreement not to cut jobs while there are 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 a wave of unofficial strikes and protests at refineries and power stations across the UK.The foreign workers row led to a wave of unofficial strikes and protests at refineries and power stations across the UK.