Solidarity Swells Lindsey Pickets

Submitted by Anon on 23 June, 2009 - 9:37 Author: Frank Miller

Good local support boosted numbers at the demonstration called at Lindsey Oil Refinery this morning adding to the solid core of sacked workers at the site. Building from a slow start at 0630 the picket swelled to over 1500 by 0830. The picket line itself was very quiet, most of the sacked workers having already heard the news that Total had agreed to talks. Yesterdays dramatic burning of their letters informing them of the sack was matched today by a further defiant gesture as the picket moved off in an impromptu march along the road outside the refinery up towards the nearby motorway junction. The police, present in only small numbers, had no choice but to fall back. At the end of the road a speech was made about unity and sticking together and ironically given the illegal nature of the initial walkouts keeping it legal.
It was explained that it was the bosses not the police that were the enemy and in good order the march was turned around regrouping in the car park for the start of a mass meeting. Fundamentally it seemed to be another demonstration of the real strength of the workers who, if they had chosen, could have blocked the refinery gates and effectively closed it down. The mass meeting heard of the offer of talks from Total and the contractors and the mood seemed to be certain that the workers would be reinstated as Total is losing too much money on the delays and stoppages on the construction site.
Talks are still underway as I write this but it seems clear that escalating the action to winning the support of the tanker drivers has been discussed. The isolation of the plant and the limited road access would mean that it would take a major police operation of the kind seen in the miners’ strike to effectively frustrate a picket of the size seen today. With the refinery supplying a large chunk of the north east of England and Yorkshire the effect would be quickly seen at the petrol pumps.
Support from other unions was represented in at least one trades council banner from Chesterfield, at least two FBU branches, flags from UNISON and others. Compared to the original wildcat strikes earlier this year the two unions on site, GMB and UNITE, were seen in the presence of many more flags and a PA system playing all your TU favourites: Part of the Union, Power in the Union and perhaps not so predictably Jerusalem. There was a Union Jack and I could count only two BJFBW placards both courtesy of the Daily Star.
Despite it being prominent in news reports the threatened national industrial ballot for an industry wide strike was surprisingly talked down. The workers I spoke to had no clear idea of the timetable or indeed likelihood of the ballot. Other reports suggest that the GMB when contacted nationally could only offer a tentative date of the end of July. Taking their time they said to make sure their info was up to date and the ballot would be legal.
And it was the GMB who seemed to have the sympathy of the sacked workers as compared to UNITE and in particular anger at their full time officer. The strength of the rank and file and their local strike committee seemed intact from February and clearly any deal will have to go to a mass meeting. On the show of strength I saw this morning the only deal that seems likely to be accepted is reinstatement for all. Given that Total now seem to have committed a whole hearted u-turn since the end of last week; where there would be no talks until there had been a full return to work, it seems possible that such a deal is within site. Further and growing solidarity action around the country today will only add weight to the continued resistance at Lindsey itself. If the sackings remain in place a broader appeal for solidarity is likely calling for supporters to picket Total garages and offices and for further and bigger demonstrations at the plant itself.

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