Second day of labour row walkout

Walkout spreads across the UK

Hundreds of workers at two oil refineries have started a second day of unofficial action in a dispute over the use of foreign labour.

Contract workers at the ConocoPhillips and Lindsey oil refineries in North Lincolnshire walked out on Tuesday and have voted to continue the action.

They are supporting striking workers at South Hook natural gas site in Wales.

Police said about 800 protesters had blocked roads around the Lindsey site but the protest was coming to a close.

Contract workers from across the UK took part in a similar action in January and February over a construction contract at Lindsey Oil Refinery being given to an Italian firm.

Contractor 'regret'

Tony Ryan, a steward at Lindsey Oil refinery, told the BBC the action could last days or weeks.

He said: "They [the South Hook workers] came out in support of us in February and we are doing the same.

"They are suffering the same hardship as we suffered in February and the same discrimination and they have asked for our support and we are giving it fully.

"They are hoping for talks with management and hopefully they'll see sense and they'll start employing British labour."

United shop steward Kenny Ward said: "We will be here every day until this matter is resolved and the politicians sit up and listen and do something about the plight of this industry."

Protestors stop traffic outside Lindsey oil refinery

Protestors stopped traffic outside the Lindsey plant

Hertel UK, the contractor for the South Hook site, said it had been unable to source skilled people for the start of the project.

Managing director David Fitzsimons said: "As a result, we subcontracted the works to a third party which also employs non-UK labour and was also engaged on phase 1 of this project in 2008.

"This is a short term project and our involvement will be for approximately three months. We have agreed with union officials that we will hire local skilled personnel once they are identified.

"I regret that this situation has escalated. We understand people's concerns and we have engaged in detailed discussions with trade union national officials and local representatives."

ConocoPhillips said the action had not affected operations at the site and it looked forward to "the situation being resolved as soon as possible".

Total UK, which owns Lindsey Oil Refinery, said: "We can confirm that a number of construction contractors working on the Lindsey Oil Refinery HDS-3 project have taken part in a walkout this morning as they continue to support protest action elsewhere in the country.

"Output from the refinery is unaffected and we hope that the construction contractors will return to work tomorrow."