MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK trade unions win first labour “protectionism” case

Meeting of workers at the Lindsey Oil Refinery

UK oil refinery workers who walked out in a dispute over foreign labour have agreed to return to work. Hundreds of workers at the Lindsey Oil Refinery, in North Lincolnshire, voted to end their unofficial industrial action after accepting a deal drawn up by union officials and companies at the heart of the row.

Under the deal, 102 new jobs will be provided to UK workers on a project which was contracted to an Italian company. Around 300 workers packed into a marquee at the North Killingholme site to vote on the proposals. Loud cheers could be heard coming from the behind-closed-doors meeting as the workers discussed the issues. Staff will return to work at the plant on Monday. The dispute began on Wednesday last week after it was revealed the Italian company contracted to the project would bring its own construction engineering staff. The unofficial strike action sparked copycat protests from thousands of workers at power stations and other construction sites across the country. Phil Whitehurst, a member of the negotiating committee for the GMB union, said he was delighted with the vote. He said: "It was an excellent decision. We have now got the chance to go back to work but the fight does not stop here. The fight continues at Staythorpe and anywhere else where an injustice is being done. It was a unanimous decision. It was an excellent vote." Total said it was pleased with the return to work vote, adding: "We look forward to working with the contractors on the £200 million expansion project (HDS-3) that will help to secure the future of the refinery and local employment for many years to come. "We would like to highlight again that we have not, and will not, discriminate against British companies and British workers".