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Reluctant Hero

According to the company that runs Grangemouth if the planned strike goes ahead this week

Reluctant Hero · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:13 pm Post subject:

Not sure if there is going to be an early resolution to this, especially since the company is taking legal action against the Union. That will just fuel the flames (no pun intended)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7361914.stm

Refinery dispute talks deadlocked

Talks aimed at resolving a dispute which could shut down the Grangemouth oil refinery, near Falkirk, will resume on Wednesday morning.

Officials from the Unite union have been meeting bosses from Ineos at the conciliation service Acas in London.

Up to 1,200 workers plan to strike on Sunday and Monday over proposals to change pension scheme arrangements.

The company has begun shutting down the refinery, which processes 210,000 barrels of oil a day, over the issue.

The strike was called over plans by Ineos to end its final salary pension scheme for new workers and to make other changes.

These included the introduction of contributions to the pension scheme from the workers.

Ineos said it had made a number of concessions to the union which it said represented a "significant improvement" on its initial proposals.
The dispute prompted motorists to queue for fuel at Falkirk's Tesco store

But officials at Unite said there was nothing new in the company's statement, adding that the union continued to press for the proposals to be withdrawn.

After more than five hours of talks at Acas on Tuesday, union officials said the negotiations would continue at 0900 BST on Wednesday.

The bitter row which preceded the talks has resulted in Ineos taking legal action over comments made by union officials.

The company said Unite had claimed that Ineos had stripped £40m from the Grangemouth pension fund.

"This is an extremely serious allegation and is completely untrue," an Ineos statement said.

"We have asked Unite to retract their statement but they have refused to do so.

"We therefore have no choice but to issue court proceedings in order to protect our reputation and to establish that the allegation is untrue."

Governments on both sides of the border have urged the two sides to continue negotiations in a bid to avert the strike.

They have also warned the public against panic-buying fuel in fear of supplies running short.
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carol · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:10 pm Post subject:

some pumps are drying up in Perthshire, just spoke to someone who filled up her car with diesel to discover that was it! Although when I was in Morrisons earlier today they said they had plenty petrol etc.

also the other half works in agricultural, coordinates fuel for farmers etc, one supplier turned up with tankers at Grangemouth to refuel apparently were sent away empty handed.

My car's now being used for essential purposes

Lewis · No Longer a Wean Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 81

I dislike people who panic buy in these situations. It is totally illogical and very ignorant and selfish.

Anyway, will buses still be running?
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carol · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:59 pm Post subject:

i think my boys are hoping school ones won't be Very Happy

my car will be idle for a while, only out when necessary

Lewis · No Longer a Wean Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 81

I was intending on going to Dundee, but I'll wait Razz

I heard a good question today: "Who is holding the country to ransom then, the oil owners or the strikers?" Any views?
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Reluctant Hero · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:39 pm Post subject:

It has certainly been an interesting day.

Firstly we learned that the talks have broken down and are unlikely to resume.

Then Lothian Buses said that they would run out of fuel by Monday because BP were told that they were to deliver to the forecourts first. This statement was quickly retracted and Salmond moved to quell fears.

Then in the parliament Alexander yet again chose the wrong tactics, whereas Stephen and Goldie were slightly more reserved. Brian Taylor has written a good blog about it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/therep...08/04/in_the_public_interest.html

There is so many claim and counter claim going on that it is impossible to know the truth. Are the workers or the company right? Are we really going to run out of fuel? Who knows!

For what it is worth, I think that the workers are right to strike. Workers throughout Scotland have seen their terms and conditions taken from them for long enough, it is good to see some of them fight back.
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mal · No Longer a Wean Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Posts: 93

The most interesting fact is how much they`re saying the government loses a day in tax,now when this all runs out how is the UK going to balance its books.

McCrone was right all along,feckin Unionist scumbags have destroyed the aspirations of Scots by lying and deceit and the press in Scptland backed them up.

I despair Crying or Very sad

Economist · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:38 pm Post subject:

Holebender · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 4:14 pm Post subject:

Well, there'd be several different factors in play here. First and foremost, the oil companies pay a tax on every barrel of oil produced. If they stop producing the oil stays in the ground and no tax is paid. In addition, there'll be reductions in profits and consequently reductions in corporation taxes paid. There will also be less VAT paid as various operating supplies are not bought, etc.
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Jimbo · This is Ma' Life! Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 623

Economist wrote

Reluctant Hero · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 8:08 pm Post subject:

Another interesting aspect to this story has been the coverage by the UK news. Absolutely no mention of the story until tonight, when there may be a chance of some of England going without fuel (more than just the North of England that could have been affected)

But now, it is top story on the BBC News anyway. Further reason, if ever we needed one, for a Scottish Six.
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Reluctant Hero · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 10:10 pm Post subject:

Joanna Blythman has an interesting take on this story in the Sunday Herald

http://www.sundayherald.com/oped/opinion/display.var.2228321.0.0.php
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Morph · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 10:33 am Post subject:

This is a crazy affair, the worry i have is petrol prices have risen despite press releases saying this is not needed. Morrisons for one have stated their petrol will be ok but have increased the price,in Kilmarnock anyway, by a pence on the litre!

The strike may end but i can be my house the prices will not drop back down!
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Lothian Sky · I Love 'Our Scotland' Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Posts: 344

I back the unions 100%.

Do whatever it takes guys.

Morph · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:20 am Post subject:

What do they want regarding pensions? The story i read was sketchy on this
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Dave Coull · Independentista Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 808

Morph asked (regarding the Grangemouth workers) "What do they want regarding pensions?"

They want to keep them.

They want to keep the pension scheme which they have always had.

It is the company that is making demands, not the workers.

The new company boss, a multi-billionaire, wants to change the pension scheme so that his company will have to pay less, and so that a company which is already awash with money can have access to those pension funds.