| Pinsent Masons partner Lisa Patmore points out that unofficial wildcat strikes can pose a serious risk to employees who may be misled by the sight of support behind the scenes from shop stewards. |
All sacked Lindsey oil refinery workers will need to be reinstated if the dispute is to end, the union Unite has declared.
Unite representatives are due to meet with construction employers in London later today to attempt to hammer out a deal to end the Lindsey dispute.
Unite assistant general secretary, Les Bayliss said: “We will make it absolutely clear that all the sacked workers at Lindsey must be re-instated. This is the only way there is going to be a settlement to this dispute.
“Unite is determined to support its members and we will be doing everything possible to secure a just settlement on their behalf. “
It is estimated about 2,000 contract workers across the UK have been taking unofficial action all week in support of the sacked workers.
Total said the unofficial walkouts were illegal. In a statement last Friday, the oil giant confirmed: “The contractor workforce has been engaged in an unofficial, illegal walkout since last Thursday, 11 June. This action has been repudiated by both Unite and GMB unions.”
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It added that Total had repeatedly sought to return the staff to work so that negotiations could take place.
The Lindsey refinery was hit by strikes earlier this year in a row over British jobs for British workers.
