Unite’s statement on the Lindsey oil refinery dispute
Welcoming the decision, Unite joint general secretary, Derek Simpson said,
“This is a good deal which establishes the principle of fair access for UK workers on British construction projects. We now expect other companies in the construction industry to level the playing field for UK workers. The workers involved in the unofficial strike can now get back to work.
“Lindsey is part of a much wider problem that will not go away just because the workers at Lindsey have voted to go back to work. There are still employers who are excluding UK workers from even applying for work on construction projects. No European worker should be barred from applying for a British job and absolutely no British worker should be barred from applying for a British job.”
Unemployed construction workers refused work at Staythorpe, a Nottinghamshire power station, are taking their fight for fair access to jobs directly to the London HQ of Alstom, the company at the centre of the row, today (Thursday, see notes to editors).
Carrying placards bearing the message “Alstom, give us a chance”, the workers will be pressing Alstom to ensure its sub-contractors, Montpressa and FMM, open up their contracts to UK workers.
“The government is beginning to grasp the fundamental issues. They must act to level the playing field for UK workers. We need action which compels companies applying for contracts on public infrastructure projects, to sign up to Corporate Social Responsibility agreements, which commit to fair access for UK Labour.
The UK needs to upgrade and build new power stations and there are huge opportunities to create thousands of well paid and highly skilled jobs. It will be a disgrace if UK workers are not even allowed to apply for jobs to build British power stations.
Point one of Unite’s proposed three point plan has been achieved.
1. Resolve the immediate problem that exists at Total’s Lindsey oil refinery. Reach an agreement which gives fair consideration for UK labour to work on the contract.
2. Carry out an investigation into the practices of contractors and subcontactors in the engineering and construction industry. Follow by action from the government which will insist that companies applying for contracts on public infrastructure projects, sign up to Corporate Social Responsibility agreements which commit to fair access for UK Labour.
3. Overturn European legal precedents which allow employers to undercut wages and conditions. A European Court of Justice precedent gives employers a license for ‘social dumping’ and prevents unions form taking action to prevent the erosion of UK workers’ pay and condition (see notes to editors).
The current proposals to be put to the workers at Lindsey will mean that 102 additional jobs will be created for UK workers.
ENDS
Contact: Ciaran Naidoo 07768 931 315
Notes to editors
Staythorpe power station workers tell Alstom to give them fair access to jobs
Demonstration: Alstom HQ, 175 High Holborn, WC1V 7AA
11am until 2pm, Thursday, February 5th, 2009
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