REFINERY WALKOUT: Using foreign workers 'could cause redundancies'
PROTESTERS are claiming the use of Italian contractors at the Lindsey Oil Refinery will lead to mass redundancies.
As almost 1,000 contract workers picket LOR, refinery bosses are being called upon to distribute jobs evenly.
Billy Bones, who works for sub-contractor Shaw Group UK Ltd, said: “It has been a good protest, there has been no violence and I feel that the point is getting across.
“We want at least 50 per cent of the workers to be from the UK.
“We have got public support on our side and we are very optimistic that the argument is going to be won.”
Another worker from the Shaw Group, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The Italians are putting nothing back into the local economy; the Italian company could have sourced the UK market.
“By the middle of February, we will be in a position of possible redundancies.
“We need some legislation to protect us but the union’s hands are tied, as legally they cannot sanction the kind of action.”
Keep checking here for breaking news on the strike.
5 Comments
by Richard Polkinghorne, U.K.
Friday, January 30 2009, 12:36AM
“Definitely British Workers should have this work BUT
Maincontractors, and especially subcontractors do however often bring their own men to the site.Yhis has always been so.The fault here is our Unions. They should have had a more proactive role at the beggining, turning into a labour agency or even subcontractor, finding out what the contractors are paing for the job and then say we could supply 10000 workers for you,
unions should into turn into labour agencies and act proactively when new projects start.
Signed Construction Manager (retired) thank God”
by K, Cleethorpes
Thursday, January 29 2009, 7:05PM
“Keep striking lads! Your'e sheep being led by idiots. You doing a wonderful job of getting yourself near the dole office. The Italians are perfectly entitled to work here.. in exactly the same way as thousands of brits go over to Spain or work in Saudi Arabia.
Now stop your illegal strikes and get back to you cushy little number. This has nothing to do with protecting our youngsters future but protecting your chusy pay packets.”
by RLH, Lincolnshire
Thursday, January 29 2009, 4:38PM
“The questions I would want answered are:: Where any of the local workforce offered a job at a lower rate to give them the first chance of refusal. Secondly if some of this labour even though suitably trained is collecting dole money, it would be cheaper for the country to have them on site working even if its only for three months. I agree with these men, Jobs for British workers. Thats what Brown said, thats what should happen, and I beleive if this government had, had the guts to stick up for British workers like the French government does, and disguard Brussels regulations like other European countries do when it effects thier workers then these men would now be on site earning.”
by Steve, Great coates
Thursday, January 29 2009, 2:53PM
“I understand the feelings people have here.But LOR have to get the best deal for the company. If you were having work done on your house,you would get three companies to quote. Lets say the cheapest quotes comes in at £2000 below the rest ,but then you found out they employed foreign workers.Would you pay £2000 more because there British?
I think not.”
by Mr. Spell Checker, Omnipresent
Thursday, January 29 2009, 11:21AM
“It's The Shaw Group UK Ltd......not Shore !!......sorry to be picky :-)”