Fuel workers take to picket over job losses

A large crowd picketed outside the refinery, off The Manorway, Corringham, yesterday morning, after it is understood at least 200 workers downed tools for a 24-hour walkout.

About 50 workers from Tilbury power station, off Fort Road, also joined in the unofficial industrial action.

The wildcat strikes were in support of a dispute at the Lindsey oil refinery, in North Lincolnshire, where 650 workers have been sacked by French-owned firm Total.

This followed a row in February this year at the Lincolnshire refinery, over the alleged employment of foreign workers in place of British people.

Stevie Durham, 46, a contract worker at Coryton, said: “All the lads walked out, and we’ll be having another meeting today to see if we will be continuing with the strike.”

Another worker, who asked not to be identified, said: “We’re fully behind the Lindsey workers over this. I think this dispute is going to escalate more this time than it did in February.”

Coryton and Tilbury power station workers also went on wildcat strikes in February over the Lindsey oil refinery dispute.

Michel Benezit, Total’s president of refining and marketing, said the dispute was out of the company’s hands because it involved sub-contractors.

He added: “I want to make it clear we have not fired anyone because we have no employees involved in this work. There is not much we can do. My only goal is to see an end to the strike as soon as possible.”

Georgina Clark, spokeswoman for Petroplus, which runs Coryton, said: “Only contractors, not full-time Petroplus employees, took part. The running of the refinery was not affected.”

Claire Loveday, spokeswoman for RWE npower, which runs Tilbury power station, said: “We understand about 50 contract workers, who work on maintenance projects, have downed tools today in support of workers at the Lindsey oil refinery.

“No RWE npower staff are involved, and the situation is not affecting operations at Tilbury power station.”