2nd UPDATE: Contract Workers Walk Out At UK Lindsey Refinery
June 11 2009 - 1:12PM
Dow Jones News
Approximately 200 construction workers walked out of Total SA's
(TOT) 200,000-barrel-a-day Lindsey oil refinery in the U.K.
Thursday morning in a protest over job cuts, Total said.
The workers downed tools inside the refinery, while a group of
about 50 set up a protest line inside with the refinery perimeters,
a company spokesman added.
"They are protesting over planned redundancies which are
happening as part of the demobilization plan for the HDS-3
(Hydro-desulfurization) project," the spokesman said.
"The mechanical stage of the project is nearing completion and
as a result, as is standard industry practice on any construction
project, some of the work force have been served with 'at risk of
redundancy' letters."
In an emailed statement earlier Thursday, Total confirmed that
the Lindsey refinery continues to "operate normally," adding the
company was working with contractors and union representatives to
resolve the situation as soon as possible.
Workers at Lindsey were among hundreds of contract workers at
U.K. energy facilities who went on a two-day strike in May,
protesting the use of foreign labor at the South Hook liquefied
natural gas terminal at Milford Haven in Wales.
-By Reza Amanat, Dow Jones Newswires; 4420-7842-9487;
reza.amanat@dowjones.com