UK union recommends end of wildcat strike

[Joanne98]

LONDON (AP) — A union representing striking workers at a British refinery recommended Wednesday that its members end their wildcat walkout over the hiring of foreign workers.

Officials with the Unite union said they have made significant progress toward achieving their demand that half the jobs on a disputed construction project go to British workers.

Shop stewards suggested that members accept the new deal. Workers will vote Thursday morning.

The walkout — and several sympathy strikes across Britain — were triggered by the decision of Italian construction company IREM SpA to use Italian and Portuguese workers for a huge project at a Total refinery in northeastern England.

Earlier Wednesday, the union had rejected an offer that would have seen just over 20 percent of the jobs go to Britons.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown told lawmakers during his weekly question-and-answer session in the House of Commons that he hoped workers would accept the deal, "despite their initial reservations."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h2q9mJe_KnmFtbfBgfqVz2g7cgagD964Q06G0

20% that sucks!