ABOUT 1,100 construction workers building a biofuel plant on Teesside walked off site yesterday as part of a nationwide wildcat strike in support of sacked Lincolnshire oil refinery workers.

Contractors building the Ensus plant at Wilton, near Redcar, joined thousands across the country who downed tools in anger after 650 staff at the Lindsey refinery were yesterday given a letter saying they must reapply for their jobs by Monday.

Some activists said the action, which comes after months of bitter dispute at the refinery, could spread even further to include power workers and threaten the country’s electricity supplies.

Downing Street announced Acas had convened a meeting between unions and management at the oil refinery, owned by French energy giant Total. But the conciliation service later said it did not go ahead.

Union sources said officials waited for four hours before Total said they “no longer felt the need” for a meeting.

GMB leader Paul Kenny said yesterday it was an “outrage and a disgrace“ the talks did not go ahead, adding: “GMB and others were asked by Total to attend talks early this morning and our people travelled from across the country for the meeting.

Total said: “We have had contact with Acas and hope to be able to talk with them further next week once our contractor workforce has had the opportunity to decide if they wish to continue on this important project.”

Wildcat strikes had already spread to several power stations and other terminals in the past few days as thousands took sympathy action.

A sacked Lindsey worker said: “We are asking for support from workers across the country which I am sure will be given. Total will soon realise they have unleashed a monster.

“It is disgraceful this has happened without any consultation. It is also unlawful and it makes me feel sick. If they get away with this the rest of the industry will crumble and it will be like a turkey cull.”

The dispute flared when a contractor laid off 51 workers while another employer was hiring staff at Lindsey, which was hit earlier this year by unofficial strikes over jobs for non-UK workers.

Around 1,200 contract workers at the terminal have been taking unofficial action all week as efforts to convene talks floundered.

Referring to the sackings, Total said: “Total can confirm, with regret, that our contractors have now started the process of ending the current employment contracts for their workforce on the HDS-3 construction project.

“The contractor workforce has been engaged in an unofficial, illegal walk-out since last Thursday. This action has been repudiated by both the Unite and GMB unions.”