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Unite claims Grangemouth port strike could hit fuel supplies | Unite claims Grangemouth port strike could hit fuel supplies |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Fuel supplies to forecourts in Scotland and the north of England could be hit by a strike by dockers at the Port of Grangemouth, the Unite union has claimed. | Fuel supplies to forecourts in Scotland and the north of England could be hit by a strike by dockers at the Port of Grangemouth, the Unite union has claimed. |
More than 70 port workers began a two-week strike on Tuesday after voting for action in a row over shift patterns. | More than 70 port workers began a two-week strike on Tuesday after voting for action in a row over shift patterns. |
Unite claimed tanker drivers were refusing to cross picket lines. | Unite claimed tanker drivers were refusing to cross picket lines. |
Port owners Forth Ports said only container quayside operations had been affected by the action. | Port owners Forth Ports said only container quayside operations had been affected by the action. |
Ineos, which operates Grangemouth oil refinery next to the port, said its road terminal was "open for business" and that fuel could be collected and exported. | |
'Not justified' | 'Not justified' |
The strike action by crane drivers and loaders is due to run until 00:01 on 29 March, after which a complete ban on overtime is due to start. | The strike action by crane drivers and loaders is due to run until 00:01 on 29 March, after which a complete ban on overtime is due to start. |
The union claims new rotas being introduced by Forth Ports amount to a "de facto pay cut". | The union claims new rotas being introduced by Forth Ports amount to a "de facto pay cut". |
It also claims that the company has refused to hold talks over the dispute. | It also claims that the company has refused to hold talks over the dispute. |
Unite regional officer Sandy Smart said: "It now looks increasingly likely the company's refusal to negotiate will affect fuel supplies to forecourts across Scotland and the north of England as this strike escalates. | Unite regional officer Sandy Smart said: "It now looks increasingly likely the company's refusal to negotiate will affect fuel supplies to forecourts across Scotland and the north of England as this strike escalates. |
"Again we are ready and willing to meet with the company, through the conciliation services if necessary, to resolve this dispute through negotiation. | "Again we are ready and willing to meet with the company, through the conciliation services if necessary, to resolve this dispute through negotiation. |
"However, that requires a clear signal from Forth Port's management that they are prepared to end their imposition and return to a process of proper employment relations." | "However, that requires a clear signal from Forth Port's management that they are prepared to end their imposition and return to a process of proper employment relations." |
Grangemouth oil refinery owner Ineos said the dispute had not affected its operations. | |
A spokesman said: "Our road terminal is open for business. Fuel can be uplifted and exported. This is a dispute between Forth Ports and their dockers." | |
On Thursday, a spokesman for the Port of Grangemouth said Unite's decision to call a strike "cannot be justified". | On Thursday, a spokesman for the Port of Grangemouth said Unite's decision to call a strike "cannot be justified". |
'Open for business' | |
He said: "We have been discussing with the union proposed changes to shift patterns at the Port of Grangemouth since May 2015. | He said: "We have been discussing with the union proposed changes to shift patterns at the Port of Grangemouth since May 2015. |
"During that time their implementation has been delayed twice to allow Unite to put forward a workable alternative, which they have failed to do. | "During that time their implementation has been delayed twice to allow Unite to put forward a workable alternative, which they have failed to do. |
"Vessels now call at the port seven days a week and increasingly at weekends. Like any modern business, we need the flexibility to respond to our customers' needs." | "Vessels now call at the port seven days a week and increasingly at weekends. Like any modern business, we need the flexibility to respond to our customers' needs." |
He added: "Our staff and their union accepted the potential need for flexible shift patterns when this element of their employment contracts was agreed in 2011. | He added: "Our staff and their union accepted the potential need for flexible shift patterns when this element of their employment contracts was agreed in 2011. |
"We call on Unite to end this strike, get our people back to work, honour the contracts agreed in 2011 and reopen discussions on these necessary proposals. | "We call on Unite to end this strike, get our people back to work, honour the contracts agreed in 2011 and reopen discussions on these necessary proposals. |
"Meanwhile, with the exception of container quayside operations, the remainder of the Port of Grangemouth remains open for business and continues to operate." | "Meanwhile, with the exception of container quayside operations, the remainder of the Port of Grangemouth remains open for business and continues to operate." |
The Port of Grangemouth handles more than 150,000 containers annually, with daily sailings to Rotterdam, Antwerp, Felixstowe and Hamburg. | The Port of Grangemouth handles more than 150,000 containers annually, with daily sailings to Rotterdam, Antwerp, Felixstowe and Hamburg. |