Protesters gather at UK refinery after 900 sacked
* Unions say 900 workers sacked over unofficial strike
* Production at Britain's 3rd biggest refinery "unaffected"
* Meetings scheduled for later on Friday
LONDON, June 19 (Reuters) - Scores of protesters gathered outside Britain's Lindsey oil refinery on Friday after about 900 construction workers were sacked over a week-long unofficial strike.
The walkout began on June 11 and has sparked sympathy strikes at energy facilities across the country. Neither oil refining at the 223,000 barrels-a-day plant in Lincolnshire nor electricity generation elsewhere has been affected.
"Production is completely unaffected," said Emily Cooper, a spokeswoman for French energy group Total (TOTF.PA), which owns the refinery.
"It is a separate project to the refinery and it is in the process of being built so it is not classed as normal refinery operations."
In a statement, Total said the contractors had been "engaged in an unofficial, illegal walkout". They have until Monday to reapply for their jobs working on a new desulphurisation plant next to the main refinery.
The refiner said protesters had in the past tried to block delivery routes of petroleum products from a distribution terminal next to the refinery, but had been dispersed by police.
Television pictures showed scores of protesters gathering outside the plant early on Friday. Total said about 150 striking workers have gathered outside the refinery, but they were not blocking routes in or out.
New construction at the Lindsey refinery had employed between 600 and 1,200 contractors, depending on its progress.
The strike broke out in protest at some workers being made redundant while others were being hired for a subsequent phase.
TALKS PLANNED Continued...
