Refinery row resolved after further walk-out (From Western Telegraph)

Refinery row resolved after further walk-out

The row over safety concerns at the Texaco Refinery shutdown appears to have been resolved, but not before a mass walk-out by angry contractors.

Just seven days after contractors voted to avert strike action following talks with management at the Rhoscrowther refinery, hundreds of them downed tools and demanded safety improvements.

The incident which had sparked initial concerns was a fire in one of the main boilers which had left a Texaco employee with burns to his face. Other men were treated at the first aid station.

Strike action was averted at that time with a promise of better communication between management and workers. But improved relations broke down this week and contractors walked out.

Twenty-four hours after the unofficial strike, Texaco confirmed that the men were back at work. "The safety concerns cited by some contractors as reason to hold an unofficial walkout have been alleviated,'' said a spokesman. "This position has been reiterated by representatives of the unions and NJC (the National Joint Council representing non-unionised members) and borne out by on-site representatives of the Health and Safety Executive who have commented favourable with regard to our work.''

Safety, he emphasised, was the company's first priority for everyone working at the Rhoscrowther refinery. Its safety record, he insisted, was good.

Employees at the refinery recently achieved a landmark of one million work hours without an accident or recordable injury.

"This is the equivalent to over 500 people working for over one year without a single accident,'' added the spokesman.

A workforce of almost 3,000 is currently involved in the shutdown operation.