About 800 jobs could be axed today after a bitter dispute between bosses and trade union leaders at Scotland’s giant Grangemouth oil and petrochemical site.
Owner Ineos announced it would shut down the petrochemical part of the plant after a survival plan, including pension cuts and a pay freeze, was blocked by the Unite union. The oil refinery will remain open.
The Swiss-based company said the “hugely sad day” could have been avoided if the cost-cutting changes to pay and conditions and a no-strike agreement had been agreed. Unite said about 680 of the site’s 1,370-strong workforce had rejected the proposals, which include a pay freeze for 2014-16, removal of bonuses up to 2016, a reduced shift allowance and closing the final-salary pension scheme.
Labour MP for Falkirk Eric Joyce attacked Unite’s leadership as “fumbling” and “dumbed down” for ignoring the hard realities the company and its workers face.
He said: “Unite called a strike over a pathetic and petty issue related to Labour Party internal politics. By the time the union woke up to the reality workers faced, it was too late.” He added: “Workers at Ineos need proper union representation — right now, they’re getting the fumbling, dumbed-down, politicised opposite.”
The dispute became an issue in the recent Labour Party selection row at Falkirk.
Mr MacLean said after meeting workers: “This is a hugely sad day for everyone at Grangemouth. We have tried our hardest to convince employees of the need for change but unsuccessfully. There was only ever going to be one outcome if nothing changed.”
