Second Day Of Grangemouth Strike

Staff at Grangemouth are beginning the second day of a two-day strike.

It is believed that up to 1,200 staff took up the strike action in a row over pensions, which began at 6am on Sunday.

Grangemouth powers the BP-controlled Forties pipeline at Kinneil processing plant, which provides a third of the UK's daily oil output.

To cope with demand, extra fuel supplies are being shipped into Scotland from European destinations such as Rotterdam and Gothenburg.

Seven tankers due to arrive this week are said to be transporting nearly 65,000 tonnes of fuel.

The dispute centres round oil refinery INEOS and Unite union.

UK Business and Enterprise Secretary John Hutton told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that he "hoped that the two sides will get back into discussions as quickly as possible".

Ineos General Manger, Gordon Grant said that the company had "bent over backwards" to avoid the strike but that the unions had "decided to go ahead with it".

Tom Crotty, CEO INEOS Olefins said in a statement on Friday: "We are deeply disappointed that today the Unite union has chosen to escalate this despute further. We call on Unite to change their plans that target other businesses and indeed the wider Scottish and UK economy. Their dispute is with INEOS, and it should stay with INEOS."

Unite National Officer, Phil McNulty said in a statement released today: "A lot of untruths have been peddled about the reasons for this strike. Our members have been accused of being greedy and irresponsible but this strike is not about getting more money from their employer or an attack on the ordinary people of Scotland.

"The Grangemouth workers are having to strike to defend their existing pension scheme which, despite the fact it is well-funded and in profit, their hugely rich employer, Ineos, wants to close it."

Unite and refinery operator INEOS have not yet agreed a date on which to resume talks.

The Scottish Government said that by 12 noon on Friday only five out of Scotland's 956 fillings stations had run out of fuel but issues a warning that problems could snowball this week as the stations waited to be refilled.

Grangemouth oil workers have taken out a series of adverts in the Scottish media today in a bid to explain their position and drum up support.

Almost 60 MPs have signed up to an Early Days Motion (EDM) laid by Grangmouth MP, Michael Connarty, adding their support for workers.

Further reading: Grangemouth Dispute May Cost The Economy £50m A Day

(DS/JM)