100 workers at Fawley Oil Refinery to strike in June

Unite the Union has said that 100 of its workers will take part in "fresh strikes" on June 9, 10,16, 17 and 20 at Fawley Oil Refinery.

The union claims the June strikes, over sick pay, will "risk petrol supply disruption at a sixth of the UK’s petrol stations".

It comes following previous strikes on April 8, 25 and May 6.

READ MORE: Union condemns 'outrageous' decision to suspend Fawley refinery worker

Contractors who work for Trant Engineering Limited, Veolia Services and Altrad Services will be taking part in the industrial action.

Workers who are directly employed by Exxon get sick pay from day one of their employment, whereas those working for Trant, Veolia and Altrad only receive statutory sick pay of £96.35 a week.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Exxon made a staggering £6.25 billion in 2021, so there is no reason whatsoever to deny Fawley workers a fair deal on pay and company sick pay.

“There is still time to avoid further strikes but Exxon and the employers must come back with an offer that our members can accept.”

READ MORE: Around 100 workers set to strike at Hampshire oil refinery amid dispute over pay

Unite’s Veolia members carry out safety-critical work such as the removal of sewage, hydrocarbons and emergency works.

Other members are involved in providing aircraft fuel to airports as well as petrol and diesel for garage forecourts.

Unite regional officer Malcolm Bonnett said: “Not only are these workers being treated as second class employees, by refusing them company sick pay, Exxon and the employers are encouraging people who are ill to work.

“At a site where flammables are handled and processed, it is simply not safe to have people forcing themselves to work while sick because they are worried about their incomes falling off a cliff. This is the case at Fawley and it needs to end.”

At the start of May, a Unite rep was suspended by Altrad Services after 50 of his colleagues - who are not part of the dispute - refused to cross a picket line during a strike, the union claims.

Unite says he was falsely accused of initiating secondary industrial action and potentially putting the refinery and its staff at risk.

An ExxonMobil spokesperson said: “This matter relates to pay negotiations between Unite the Union and its members, employed by Trant, Altrad and Veolia, who provide routine third-party maintenance services.

“We do not anticipate that the proposed action will impact on operations at Fawley, or on supplies to customers.

“We continue to encourage all parties to work together to reach a resolution.”

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