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04/02/2009
Deal Reached In 'Foreign Labour' Row
Union leaders are calling for an end to wildcat strikes, after a deal was reached over the ongoing dispute over the use of foreign workers.
British workers have been offered 50% of the disputed jobs at the Lindsey Oil Refinery in Lincolnshire.
The strikes broke out after Total, the company which runs the Lindsey plant in Lincolnshire, chose an Italian firm to carry out work over a British one.
Thousands of workers across the country also walked out in 'sympathy strikes', including around 900 workers at nuclear plant Sellafield and 300 contractors at Heysham.
Unions had claimed British workers had been excluded from the contract with Irem – which has brought around 200 Italian and Portuguese staff to the UK.
They have now stated they had been making "genuine progress" in the bitter row.
Workers, however, had earlier rejected a deal brokered by Acas on Tuesday, which said 60 out of the 198 disputed jobs would be made available to British staff.
The final number of jobs on offer is now expected to be about 100.
Tony Ryan, from the strike committee, said a couple of issues had to be discussed before the deal was finalised.
But, he said: "We've made significant progress. We've been offered what we went in for, really, which is 50/50.
"We've got to vote on what's been proposed. The stewards' recommendation tomorrow will be for the lads to return to work."
A number of ‘sympathy protests’ broke out across the UK last week, including nuclear plants Sellafield and Heysham, and Grangemouth Oil Refinery as well as Aberthaw power station in Wales and the Corus Steel plant in Northern Ireland.
In the House of Commons, Tory leader David Cameron said Prime Minister Gordon Brown's slogan of "British jobs for British workers" showed a "lack of judgment".
He added that the slogan was "opportunist and protectionist" and called on the Prime Minister to apologise and pledge not to use tit again.
See: Hundreds Walk Out As Refinery Dispute Escalates
See: Sellafield Workers Join Wildcat Strikes
(JM/BMcC)
British workers have been offered 50% of the disputed jobs at the Lindsey Oil Refinery in Lincolnshire.
The strikes broke out after Total, the company which runs the Lindsey plant in Lincolnshire, chose an Italian firm to carry out work over a British one.
Thousands of workers across the country also walked out in 'sympathy strikes', including around 900 workers at nuclear plant Sellafield and 300 contractors at Heysham.
Unions had claimed British workers had been excluded from the contract with Irem – which has brought around 200 Italian and Portuguese staff to the UK.
They have now stated they had been making "genuine progress" in the bitter row.
Workers, however, had earlier rejected a deal brokered by Acas on Tuesday, which said 60 out of the 198 disputed jobs would be made available to British staff.
The final number of jobs on offer is now expected to be about 100.
Tony Ryan, from the strike committee, said a couple of issues had to be discussed before the deal was finalised.
But, he said: "We've made significant progress. We've been offered what we went in for, really, which is 50/50.
"We've got to vote on what's been proposed. The stewards' recommendation tomorrow will be for the lads to return to work."
A number of ‘sympathy protests’ broke out across the UK last week, including nuclear plants Sellafield and Heysham, and Grangemouth Oil Refinery as well as Aberthaw power station in Wales and the Corus Steel plant in Northern Ireland.
In the House of Commons, Tory leader David Cameron said Prime Minister Gordon Brown's slogan of "British jobs for British workers" showed a "lack of judgment".
He added that the slogan was "opportunist and protectionist" and called on the Prime Minister to apologise and pledge not to use tit again.
See: Hundreds Walk Out As Refinery Dispute Escalates
See: Sellafield Workers Join Wildcat Strikes
(JM/BMcC)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:After a dry start this morning rain will spread from the northwest across all parts. This afternoon will be dull with some patchy rain and drizzle. Becoming much milder through the afternoon. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:A cloudy evening and night with a little light rain or drizzle, perhaps some clear periods developing along the east coast. A very mild night everywhere. Minimum temperature 10 °C.
