Coryton closure fight goes on

Submitted by AWL on 24 July, 2012 - 12:49

Oil workers at the Coryton refinery in Essex are continuing their campaign of demonstrations and pickets against the closure of their workplace.

Coryton is one of eight refineries in the UK, and supplied 20% of all the fuel used in London and south east England. It closure is estimated to represent a potential £250 million loss the economy of south Essex, as well as 800 jobs at the refinery itself.

The workers, who are members of the Unite union, have been demonstrating at the plant, and have been involved in a number of clashes with the police. The focus of demonstrations has now shifted to the Purfleet oil terminal, operated by one of the companies involved in the consortium which now owns Coryton and is responsible for its closure.

Unite organiser Russ Ball said: “We will not be picketing, we are not asking people at the terminal to stop work, but we are taking this campaign one step at a time.

“This is part of our campaign for a public inquiry into the Coryton sale and closure and demos can be just as effective as other means when we get the numbers.”

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