MPs to show support for Scottish refinery workers

22 April 2008

Members of Parliament are being asked to sign up to an Early Day Motion (EDM) to give their support to the 1,200 workers at the Ineos plant in Grangemouth who are preparing to strike to defend their pensions.

The EDM which is being tabled in the House of Commons today by Michael Connarty MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk, the constituency incorporating the Grangemouth refinery, says:"That this House notes the proposal by Ineos to reduce the pension rights of the workforce at the former BP oil refinery and chemicals complex at Grangemouth, Scotland from that which had been part of the terms and conditions of employment of the workforce when Ineos bought the BP site; that in addition the Ineos proposal is to create a two tier workforce with all new employees being denied a final salary pension; resulting in 97% of trade union members in an 86% ballot return voting for strike action after exhaustive negotiations; expresses concern at the aggressive tactics of Ineos senior management, in undermining the agreed consultative processes and supports the efforts of the Ineos workforce and their trade union Unite to sustain existing pension arrangements on this very profitable complex for the benefit of all current and future employees."

Unite will be calling on its 167 MP members to sign up to the EDM. Michael Connarty MP is also a Unite member.

Yesterday Scottish trade unions gave their overwhelming support to the Grangemouth refinery workers, unanimously passing an emergency resolution at the Scottish Trade Union Congress.

Unite members at the Ineos plant in Grangemouth are due to strike on Sunday 27th and Monday 28th April in protest at plans to close the final salary pension scheme to new entrants and reduce provision for existing scheme members, although both sides have agreed to conciliation talks later today through ACAS.

The strike is in response to plans to close the Ineos final salary pension scheme to new entrants and reduce provision for existing scheme members. The company has already moved to reduce its contributions to the scheme and has made other detrimental changes for employees, including introducing financial penalties for early retirement. These changes were made against the wishes of the pension scheme members during a six month consultation.