why is Grangemouth shutting?

[giraffesCantGoGuising]

Am I missing something? I thought the strike was called off - so why is it in process of shutting down? It has been a long day! I have read the article but am still confused

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Something about ACAS talks breaking down and Ineos wanting guarantee from Unison(?) that no more strikes would be threatened.....and not getting one. So closing it down in case issue comes up again. And saying after 2017 if no further investment it is unsustainable. Which sounds pretty dire.

Really do not understand this, only heard a bit on 10 o'clock news in car as we can to end of day long journey.....

DH says it takes a week to safely shut down and then restart the plant in a controlled fashion so they could never just shut for a day strike.

Yes, I heard on the news that they had already had to start shutting down - it's not something they can do at the flick of a switch, it takes several days, so it's too late now to say "it's OK, we're not striking after all"

Ah Ok thanks! That makes sense with the shutting it safley down thing and it taking time.

So are they going to reopen it then?! What about the people who work there - do they get paid?

I am not usually this daft do understand most news stories - honest! Just this one that is confusing me! I should watch newsround!

It all started with a chap called Stephen Deans and now it's just spiralled out of control the whole thing. It's a complete farse and I can see INEOS winning their case.

Petrochemical plant set to close according to BBC. No mention of refinery, so presumably that stays open for now.

It stays open but the plant is still 'shut down', my dp this week has ummm slept in the cabins and done the puzzles in the paper, he thankfully works in the refinery but what this means long term for him no one knows!

I used to work in the refinery - best job I every had! Apparently majority of office based staff voted for changes but shop floor workers rejected.

Shame on the billionaire owner who sat on a yacht in the med somewhere deciding the fate of thousands of people livelihoods!

StoorieHoose

Shame on the billionaire owner who sat on a yacht in the med somewhere deciding the fate of thousands of people livelihoods!

Don't you think the unions share some responsibility for what's happened?

yes I do (I used to work along side the union reps when I was there) - they are a shower of bastards too - especially as this started out with their dodgy dealings over the Falkirk candidate for the useless Eric Joyce

StoorieHoose my dp has a very similar view of the union reps...

It was over 20 years ago I worked there (YTS) - typical that they haven't changed ClaimedByMe

how is this going to affect petrol / diesel supplies? are we going to see rationing going on?

It shouldn't affect petrol/diesel supplies

I know a tanker driver based at Grangemouth and he said at the moment its fine but if the refinery workers strike and picket their depot they won't cross the picket line and thats when things will get hairy.

I don't think the week long shut down will have too much of an effect of supply but who knows!

Come back BP all is forgiven!!!

I won't hear from dp till 4.15 and even then I probably know more than him, they aren't getting told anything in the refinery.

how worrying for you Claimed :(

If it wasn't for the fiasco with Stephen Deans I'm sure this would not have escalated to this level.

However, all hope is not to be lost as Eck is trying to attract a buyer to take over the plant. Fingers crossed for everyone, because if a buyer is not sought then we're more than a bit screwed (esp the local community).

Eck being on the case is not filling the workers with confidence, quite the opposite actually!

Well there's not much point in anyone striking now, the place is closing? Workers rejected the contract changes which management said we're needed to keep the place open, so it's closing. Very sad

What buyer will want to buy a business that is losing £10 million each month?

The refinery could reopen but will the union let it?

See StoorieHoose's post of 13:34.