16:48
Tieng Anh Vui
The operator of the Grangemouth oil refinery and petrochemical plant is due to make an announcement on the site's future.
Ineos said it would inform the workforce of its plans, following a shareholders meeting on Tuesday.
An ongoing dispute between the company and the Unite union has resulted in the plant being temporarily closed.
Both the Scottish and UK governments have urged both sides to get back round the negotiating table.
Company shareholders met in London to discuss the outcome of the firm's challenge to the workforce to accept new terms and conditions.
Staff at the site had been given until 18:00 on Monday to agree to changes, which include a pay freeze and downgrading of pensions.
Unite said half of the 1,350-strong workforce had rejected the proposed changes to contracts.
Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney said the Scottish government had been trying to find a buyer for the site and has had discussions "with other players".
Speaking on Monday, he said: "In view of the clear danger of a stalemate developing between the owners and the union, the Scottish government has indeed been actively pursuing alternative options.
"This is what the people of Scotland expect. However, the overwhelming priority is to get the Grangemouth plant back into operation."
Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said both the UK and Scottish governments were making "contingency plans" for the Grangemouth site, if the owners decided not to reopen it.
"The next day or so will be an important phase in this situation and it is imperative we keep trying to bring the two sides together. That is what is best for Scotland and we will keep working hard to make that happen," he said.
Bitter dispute
Last week, Ineos sent a letter to all workers, asking them to indicate their rejection or acceptance of what it calls its "survival plan" for the site.
It said those who supported the proposals would receive a transitional payment of up to £15,000.
The two sides have been embroiled in a bitter dispute for weeks, initially over the treatment of Unite convenor Stephen Deans, who was involved in the row over a selection of a Labour candidate in Falkirk.
The dispute has since widened to the future of the entire site, with Ineos warning it will close without fresh investment and changes to pensions and other terms and conditions.
The company has said the plant, which has been shut down for a week because of the dispute, is losing £10m a month.
Ineos said it is ready to invest £300m in Grangemouth, but only if workers agree to the new terms and conditions.
Đăng ký: Tieng Anh Vui
Posted in: 
0 comments:
Post a Comment