THE row over the use of foreign labour at one of Hampshire's biggest employers is set to rumble on into September.

Officials from three major unions at Fawley oil refinery met up again with Esso management to discuss the controversial issue.

As yet, though, no breakthrough has been made that would see the army of contractors at the 3,250-acre petro-chemical complex appeased.

Hundreds of them attended union-organised mass meetings earlier this summer after 40 workers from German maintenance firm Ermo were hired for a month-long special project.

Ermo's presence unsettled British contractors, who claimed national agreements about the exclusive use of local labour had been infringed.

They have repeatedly called for cast-iron guarantees from Esso that the situation, which dates back to before June, will not arise again.

This time last week regional officers from trade unions GMB, TGWU, Amicus and UCATT met up with Esso management.

An Esso spokesman said: "This meeting related to the potential utilisation at Fawley of non-UK contractors and non-UK labour to execute turnaround work at the site.

"The discussions are on-going and the parties plan to meet again in September."

A turnaround is short-term, routine maintenance activity carried out on one of the process units at the refinery.

Esso, which employs 900 full-time workers and up to 500 contractors at the refinery, said Ermo was brought in because no British firms had the capability, at the time, to "carry out the work to our standards".

None of the unions were immediately available for comment. However, they have agreed with Esso that any official statements should be made jointly.