Photograph by Paul McIlroy
After announcing on Wednesday that the Grangemouth petrochemical plant would close, operator Ineos has now reversed its decision after the union agreed to the proposed “survival plan”.
Ineos announced that it will reopen the facility with “immediate effect” after Unite leaders agreed to pay freezes and pension downgrades for workers at the plant, saving the jobs of around around 800 employees and 2000 subcontractors. jobs.
Political leaders in Scotland and Westminster have welcomed the news, and the workforce reportedly greeted the announcement with a big cheer.
The reopening of the plant ends weeks of bitter disputes between Ineos and Unite at the plant. It began with a threat of strike action by the union over the treatment of one of its organisers at the plant after he was named as part of the Unite/Labour nomination scandal in Falkirk.
Under the threat of industrial action, Ineos took the opportunity to propose a “survival plan” for the plant that would freeze worker pay and downgrade final salary pensions, a plan which Ineos claims was the only way to save the plant as it was haemorrhaging money.
This plan was originally refused by the union, and the plant was resultantly shut down by Ineos on Wednesday, and has now only reopened after Unite came back to Ineos to accept the proposals in order to protect jobs and the local community that is dependant on employment at the plant and connected oil refinery.