Strikers Offered Jobs to End Protest

Workers participating in an unofficial strike at Total UK’s Lindsey refinery in England have been told there will be 102 jobs made available for British workers if they end their protest about the employment of foreign workers.

Union representatives will present the offer for vote on February 5th, and if accepted will end the week-long dispute that gained sympathy walkouts at refineries and electric power stations all over the country.

Workers rejected a deal where only 60 jobs out of the 200 available would have been created for British employees. Total, the unions, and Acas, the employment mediation service, have been in talks for 3 days to resolve the issue.

The British workers complained about discrimination after Total contracted Italian firm Irem SPA to build a diesel hydrodesulfurization unit. Total insisted that it has not and will not discriminate against British companies and workers.

Irem was using Italian and Portuguese employees and had provided a floating hotel as accommodation for them. According to the deal, none of them will lose their jobs.