Unite, the UK's leading union, has vowed to explore all avenues
to preserve high quality jobs at Grangemouth following the
announcement that PetroIneos will go ahead with its plans to
close its refinery.
PetroIneos confirmed today that it intends to close the refinery
at Grangemouth between April – June 2025 and become an import and
export only facility. The announcement places in jeopardy the
jobs of the 500 workers directly employed (represented by Unite)
at Grangemouth and thousands more in the supply chain.
There is widespread fury within the workplace due to the failure
of the bosses and politicians to ensure the future of the site.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is an act of
industrial vandalism, pure and simple.
“This dedicated workforce has been let down by PetroIneos and by
the politicians in Westminster and Holyrood who have failed to
guarantee production until alternative jobs are in place.
“This is now the last chance for this Labour government to show
whether its really on the side of workers and communities. The
road to net zero cannot be paid for with workers' jobs.
“The government must put its money where its mouth is to ensure
the jobs are safeguarded. This is the only refinery left in
Scotland and it must remain. There are alternative plans.
“This is yet another example of workers paying for a crisis they
did not create while billionaire owners laugh all the way to the
bank “
Unite is now in high level talks with the government about
alternatives for the site including the production of sustainable
aviation fuel.
Derek Thomson, Unite Scottish Secretary said: “The sole
objective for Unite remains that the jobs at the refinery and
thousands more in the supply chain are protected by any means.
“Unite does not accept that the future of the refinery should
have been left to the whim and avarice of shareholders. The
complex is critical to the nation's manufacturing base and energy
security. The governments involved cannot simply hide behind the
convenient smokescreen that this is a commercial decision which
they couldn't influence.”
The Grangemouth complex is of critical strategic economic and
infrastructure importance for Scotland and the UK. It is the only
oil refinery in Scotland and it provides four per cent of its GDP
and eight per cent of the nation's manufacturing base.
