Total SA (TOT) said Monday it has no plans to finalize how many contract workers it will re-hire at its U.K. Lindsey oil refinery before the end of the week, which could prolong protests at energy plants across the country.

The French oil major's move to lay off 647 contract workers Friday at Lindsey in Lincolnshire, eastern England, following week long unofficial strike action at the 200,000-barrel-a-day refinery has been met with anger by unions and workers sparking a wave of sympathy protests across the U.K. The Unite union has put the total job losses closer to 900.

Humberside police said between 500 and 700 people were protesting outside the Lindsey refinery site earlier Monday, some protesters, according to union spokespeople, burnt letters they had received informing them of job cuts.

The main contract company involved, Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (JEC) informed workers of the decision Thursday, giving them until 1600 GMT Monday to reapply for jobs. Dow Jones Newswires has repeatedly contacted Jacobs but the company has refused to comment.

Unite union assistant general secretary, Les Bayliss, said it will sit down Monday with the employers to assist negotiations, adding that so far it believes the oil major's refusal to take part in joint talks has fanned the flames of the dispute.

"It's time for Total to get serious about seeking a resolution to the problems at Lindsey. Their behavior so far has only served to heighten the unofficial dispute," said Bayliss. "The country is at the height of a recession, there is a great deal of uncertainty in the construction industry. Instead of showing sensitivity and good management, employers are treating construction workers as disposable commodities."

"Neither the companies nor the unions concerned can accept illegal, unofficial strikes called without any democratic ballot," Total said in a statement.

Around 360 contract workers, who work on either construction or maintenance projects at Aberthaw and Didcot A power stations, downed tools today Monday in sympathy with Lindsey workers, the company said.

In addition approximately 300 contract workers walked out at ConocoPhillips' (COP) 221,000-barrel-a-day Humber refinery followed by 230 contract workers at the U.K.'s South Hook liquefied natural gas terminal in Pembrokeshire.

A spokeswoman for Scottish and Southern Energy confirmed a number of AE&E Lentjes contractors were striking at its Ferrybridge power station. Workers also walked out at Royal Dutch Shell PLC's (RDSB.LN) 240,000 barrel a day Stanlow refinery and at BP PLC's (BP) Saltend Chemical Plant near Hull, northern England Monday.

Operations haven't been disrupted at any of the plants including Lindsey, according to the companies contacted.

The U.K.'s Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service said attempts to get parties to enter in to official joint talks had so far failed, but that it would continue to speak to them separately this week.

The union "GMB will support the locked-out and victimized workers, and will demonstrate that support with lawful and peaceful protests," said GMB General Secretary Paul Kenny.

The unions are planning a large demonstration outside the Lindsey site from 0530 GMT onward Tuesday.

-By Angela Henshall, Dow Jones Newswires; angela.henshall@dowjones.com +44 (0)20 7842 9405 (James Herron and Lananh Nguyen contributed to this story.)