Talks restart to end the strike action
By Blaine Williams
The wildcat strike action continues over the use of foreign labour, as negotiations recommence to try and resolve the dispute.
The protestors await the result of the talks between Acas and Total managers outside the Lindsey power station – the origin of the strike action.
The spate of strikes follows last week’s unannounced protests by workers at the Lindsey oil refinery over the decision by the company to give 300 jobs exclusively to foreign workers.
Total deny they are discriminating against British workers but union officials are standing firm in their conviction whilst trying to keep the stigma of ‘racism’ or ‘xenophobia’ away.
Phil Whitehurst said it has nothing to do with the Italian workers, who are at the epicentre of the dispute, just the right to a fair chance.
He said: “People have said it’s racist. It’s not. We’re not part of the BNP [British National Party]. I’ve shunned the BNP away from here.
“It’s about British workers getting access to a British construction site.”
Willie Doggert, GMB convener, added: “It’s not just about foreign workers. We need jobs to be advertised with transparency so that everybody gets a fair crack of the whip at getting them.”
Business secretary, Lord Mandelson, asked Acas, the independent arbitration service, to look into the allegations that British workers were barred from recruitment and report back “very quickly”.
“It has been decided that Acas will establish the facts surrounding the Irem contracting arrangements at the Lindsey refinery,” said a spokesman adding that the conciliation service would publish a report by the end of next week.
“Acas will start the fact finding process and will also hold discussions about how parties can return to normal working arrangements.”
Lord Mandelson urged protesters to return to work while the talks were taking place.
Gordon Brown condemned the wildcat strikes, on Monday, as an “unproductive” way for workers to voice their concerns over employment.
