Strikers to burn letters of dismissal

Workers who were sacked by energy giant Total after taking unofficial industrial action are planning to burn their dismissal letters outside an oil terminal, it was learned today.

The act of defiance will be held close to the Lindsey oil refinery in North Lincolnshire tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile the GMB union announced plans to hold a demonstration at the site on Tuesday in protest at the decision by Total not to take part in peace talks.

The company was expected to meet with unions and the conciliation service Acas on Friday, but Total decided not to go ahead with the talks.

The company has sacked almost 650 workers for taking wildcat action in a dispute over jobs and has given them until 5pm tomorrow to reapply for their jobs.

Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMP said today: "The GMB is not walking away from the disgraceful and outrageous behaviour of Total.

"Total would not even consider treating its French workers in this way.

"We will support the locked out and victimised workers and will demonstrate our support with peaceful and lawful protests."

Mr Kenny called on Total to meet with the unions as soon as possible to try to break the deadlocked row.

A union spokesman added that a protest will be held outside the Lindsey site from 6.30am on Tuesday and is expected to attract wide support from the trade union movement.

Sources said the sacked workers were not planning to reapply for their jobs despite the deadline being set by Total.

A number of sympathy strikes broke out last week at several power stations and other terminals and the dispute is set to escalate in the coming days.

Activists said they expected thousands of workers to take action in the coming days in support of the sacked workers.