Union vows to step up strikes at Fawley oil refinery as police deny interfering

HAMPSHIRE police denied interfering in strikes at Fawley oil refinery as tensions grow in the pay dispute in which more than 200 contractors have walked out.

Union members alleged officers had prevented strikers speaking to workers entering the ExxonMobil site.

Hampshire police insisted it had merely "worked to get traffic moving" and that blocking roads was illegal.

As reported in the A&T, the dispute involves around 230 members of the GMB and Unite unions who are in their second week of strike action. .

They work as boilermakers, welders, pipefitters, mechanical fitters and scaffolders on construction engineering maintenance contracts for Altrad, Bilfinger, and Enerveo.

Unite claimed members were unable to stage a lawful picket last Friday due to Hampshire Constabulary preventing them picketing drivers of vehicles going into the facility.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "It is seriously alarming to learn that Hampshire police have interfered in lawful, peaceful industrial action.

"This is an abuse of their role and can only serve to deepen tensions in this dispute."

Responding to the claims, New Forest district commander Chief Inspector Nick Marsden said officers had responded, after the action began on 21st November, to calls from the public that roads were being blocked by strikers.

He went on: "With significant delays and traffic building in the area the local community were concerned that they were being caught up in this while attempting to go about their daily business and that serious disruption was being caused.

"Officers attended and worked to get traffic moving as quickly as possible while also ensuring that those conducting the industrial action could safely continue their protest.

"The right to picket as part of industrial action is one that we take extremely seriously and we have not interfered with this or prevented this from happening.

"However, where people choose to act outside of the law, such as by blocking roads either completely or partially, and cause disruption to the local community, we will take necessary and proportionate action."

There will be a further 48-hour strike beginning on Tuesday 8th December, a week from Saturday 12th December and 72 hours from Saturday 19th December.

An ExxonMobil spokesperson told the A&T operations at Fawley had been unaffected and it did not anticipate any impact on fuel supplies to customers.

They added: "Industrial action is not in anyone’s interest and we ask both the trade unions and employers to work together to reach a resolution to this dispute."

Unite regional officer Malcolm Bonnett said: "The strike action is causing considerable disruption and delays across Fawley but this dispute has been caused by the contractors and client refusing to pay a bonus, to counteract the cost of living crisis.

"The untruths told by employers and the excessive police presence has redoubled our members’ determination to secure a fair settlement.

"The employers need to return to the negotiating table and make a decent offer."