Grangemouth petrochemicals plant to close

Ineos, owners of the Grangemouth petrochemical plant in Scotland, have announced the closure of the plant after ongoing disputes with workers over pay and conditions.

Ineos Petrochemicals Chairman, Calum MacLean, announced the decision in a meeting this morning (23 Oct), after the deadline for workers to accept a survival plan detailing changes to employment terms, had passed. 

The proposed changes, which included a revision of pension terms, a pay freeze from 2014-16, bonus removal and reduced shift allowance, was rejected by around 680 of the site's approx. 1400 work force, according to the Unite union. 

The company said in a statement that it would now make a decision as to whether to re-open the oil refinery, which will remain closed until the threat of industrial action was removed.

The decision could affect up to 800 jobs at the petrochemicals operation, which manufactures more than two million tonnes of chemical products annually, which are used commonly by the plastics industry in a variety of applications, including packaging, pipes and cables. 

Reacting to the news, the Unite Union said: "Grangemouth is a world class facility. Its workforce serves our country honourably. These men and women deserve better."