Strike action continues around the UK
Refinery workers in North Lincolnshire are continuing an unofficial strike which is now entering its fourth day and involves 1200 workers. The situation at the Lindsey Oil Refinery seems to have arisen because of a sub-contractor's plans to make 51 employees redundant, which prompted a furious reaction from fellow workers. This initial action has now spread to other areas of the country and we are starting to see wildcat strikes.
While there would not appear to be any specific concerns regarding foreign employment in the UK with regard to this particular action, there are underlying concerns that European workers are coming to the UK, under the European banner, and undercutting the local workforce. The unions have now joined the situation and advised the workers to sit around a table with the conciliation service ACAS and try to resolve the situation as soon as possible.
As more and more companies look to cut excess cost from their operating expenses there is a danger we could see a significant increase in industrial action around the UK which will not only disrupt business in general but could hamper the recovery of the UK economy. UK unions still hold significance way with the UK workforce despite attempts by the Conservative party to crush the movement in the 1980s. Are we set to see a battle between workers, employers and the unions?
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