Owner of Linsey Oil Refinery, Total, is actively encouraging talks to be opened between its contractors and the unions about how to facilitate the return to work of its contracting companies' former workforces.

These discussions between the unions and the contracting companies should focus on getting the project back up and running within the agreed timeframe and budget.

Tom Hardacre, National Officer for Unite, the biggest union in construction, will address workers at the Lindsey Oil refinery this morning at an official demonstration.

Mr Hardacre said: "The outrageous sacking of workers at Lindsey is one the most aggressive acts I've witnessed as a trade union official. Even some of the employers at Lindsey did not want to issue the letters to the workers but were forced to do so.

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"Last week we were attempting to broker a deal to get a resolution to the unofficial dispute but Total have allowed the dispute to escalate without any strategy to resolve the problems."

The contracting companies have assured Total they remain committed to the national agreement between themselves and the unions. There is no question of a reduction in pay or dilution of existing terms and conditions.

The HDS-3 project is now six months behind schedule and the delays, under performance and low productivity have already cost in the region of an additional 100 million euros. Further cost overruns will jeopardise the future viability of this important inward investment into the UK.

Total has been advised by its contractors that it will be the end of the week before they will be able to give confirmed figures for how many of their former workers wish to return to work. However, the contractor companies have advised they believe they will have sufficient workforce necessary to meet their programming requirements.

(CD/JM)