ABOUT 1,000 people in the North-East risked their jobs yesterday by taking part in an unofficial walkout.

The workers from the Ensus wheat refinery, at Wilton, Teesside, decided the strike was necessary to show solidarity with workers at the Lindsey oil refinery in Lincolnshire, owned by Total.

Meanwhile, the dispute over jobs at the refinery escalated when sacked construction employees burned their dismissal notices in an act of defiance against Total.

Demonstrators outside the refinery set light to letters in a car park opposite the plant in protest at being given until 5pm to reapply for their jobs.

Almost 650 contract staff working on a major construction project at the refinery were sacked last week by firms working for Total, which runs the refinery, after a week of unofficial industrial action.

Sources estimated that up to 4,000 contract workers at power stations and oil and gas terminals across the UK took part in unofficial action yesterday as the wildcat strikes spread.

One man at the Wilton plant said: “I think its important we show solidarity with the lads down in Lincolnshire.

“The whole situation is a mess and needs to be sorted as soon as possible. We could lose our jobs over this.”

The first walkout took place on Friday morning, and union chiefs will hold a meeting with staff today to see if further action is preventable.

Jimmy Skivington, regional officer for GMB union, said: “It’s absolutely shambolic.

“We have invited Total to get round the table and discuss how we can resolve the issue, but they have not engaged in talks.

“Hopefully, we can resolve this as soon as possible so the lads can get back to work.

“We will be on site tomorrow at 8am and will discuss the best course of action.

“It is possible the walkouts will continue. What has happened in Lincolnshire is a disgrace.”

A spokesman for Ensus said: “We are disappointed and dismayed that the contractors working on our site have once again decided to take unofficial strike action in support of a dispute that has absolutely nothing to do with our site.

“Such action does the strikers and this business no favours at all.

“This project is about sustaining contractor jobs on Teesside and creating and sustaining permanent longterm jobs for the future in this area.

“Anything which delays construction even for one day adds to the cost of the project and sends a very poor message to investors and one that could jeopardise future investment plans.”