Total: End Of Week Before Contractor Workforce Re-Hired
June 22 2009 - 5:53AM
Dow Jones News
Total SA (TOT) said Monday it didn't expect to be able to
finalize the number of contract workers that have reapplied for
their jobs at its U.K. Lindsey oil refinery and begin the process
of re-hiring before the end of the week.
Total's move to lay off 647 contract workers Friday at Lindsey
in Lincolnshire, eastern England, followed a weeklong unofficial
strike and has been met with anger by unions and workers. The Unite
union has put the total job losses closer to 900.
The main contract company involved Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.
(JEC) informed workers of the decision Thursday, giving them until
1600 GMT today to reapply for their jobs.
Dow Jones Newswires contacted Jacobs' office in Scotland but was
referred to the company's headquarters in California, no-one was
immediately available there to comment.
"Total calls for all parties to respect employment law and to
work together within the nationally negotiated agreements to which
they are signatories," the French oil major said in a statement.
"Neither the companies nor the unions concerned can accept illegal,
unofficial strikes called without any democratic ballot."
The 200,000-barrel-a-day refinery meanwhile continues to operate
as normal, Total said.
-By Angela Henshall, Dow Jones Newswires;
angela.henshall@dowjones.com (4420) 7842 9405