Foreign worker dispute talks due

The workers refused to return to work until the talks reach a conclusion

Hundreds of workers are continuing unofficial strike action over the use of foreign contractors, as talks resume to try to resolve the dispute.

Protesters gathered outside Lindsey Oil Refinery - where the wave of strikes originated last week - saying they were awaiting the outcome of the Acas talks.

Contractors at Longannet power station in Fife have voted to continue their support and will meet again on Friday.

Up to 500 workers at Stanlow refinery, in Cheshire, have also walked out.

Thousands went on strike last week and on Monday in a series of unofficial walk-outs around the UK, to show solidarity with workers protesting at the use of Italian and Portuguese labour at the Lindsey refinery.

Workers there were angry that a contract for work to expand the refinery was sub-contracted by main contractor Jacobs to an Italian firm, IREM, which decided to use its own workforce.

Total insists it is not discriminating against British workers.

Speaking from the crowd of protesters at the Total-owned Lindsey refinery, in North Lincolnshire, strike committee member Phil Whitehurst said he and his colleagues were convinced of their case.

He said they had nothing against the Italian workers at the centre of the dispute.

"People have said it's racist. It's not. We're not part of the BNP [British National Party]. I've shunned the BNP away from here.

"It's about British workers getting access to a British construction site."

On Monday contractors at two UK nuclear plants - Sellafield and Heysham - joined the dispute with a "sympathy strike".

Workers at Grangemouth oil refinery, central Scotland, and power stations in Longannet, Warrington and Staythorpe in Nottinghamshire were also among those to walk out.

The mediation service Acas met Total managers, its main contractor Jacobs, and union leaders for talks in Scunthorpe on Monday.

The talks were adjourned and will resume on Tuesday after agreeing the terms of reference, involving studying the contract at the heart of the row.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has urged striking workers to go back to work while the talks take place.