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Talks resume over refinery strike | Talks resume over refinery strike |
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Negotiations aimed at resolving a dispute which could shut down the Grangemouth oil refinery, near Falkirk, have resumed. | Negotiations aimed at resolving a dispute which could shut down the Grangemouth oil refinery, near Falkirk, have resumed. |
Officials from the Unite union have been meeting bosses from Ineos at the conciliation service Acas in London. | Officials from the Unite union have been meeting bosses from Ineos at the conciliation service Acas in London. |
Up to 1,200 workers plan to strike on Sunday and Monday over proposals to change pension scheme arrangements. | Up to 1,200 workers plan to strike on Sunday and Monday over proposals to change pension scheme arrangements. |
The company has begun shutting down the refinery, which processes 210,000 barrels of oil a day, over the issue. | The company has begun shutting down the refinery, which processes 210,000 barrels of oil a day, over the issue. |
The strike was called over plans by Ineos to end its final salary pension scheme for new workers and to make other changes. | The strike was called over plans by Ineos to end its final salary pension scheme for new workers and to make other changes. |
These included the introduction of contributions to the pension scheme from the workers. | These included the introduction of contributions to the pension scheme from the workers. |
Ineos said it had made a number of concessions to the union which it said represented a "significant improvement" on its initial proposals. | Ineos said it had made a number of concessions to the union which it said represented a "significant improvement" on its initial proposals. |
But officials at Unite said there was nothing new in the company's statement, adding that the union continued to press for the proposals to be withdrawn. | But officials at Unite said there was nothing new in the company's statement, adding that the union continued to press for the proposals to be withdrawn. |
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Talks aimed at ending a dispute which could shut down a Scottish oil plant are held at conciliation service Acas. | Talks aimed at ending a dispute which could shut down a Scottish oil plant are held at conciliation service Acas. |
After more than five hours of talks at Acas on Tuesday, union officials said the negotiations would continue on Wednesday morning. | After more than five hours of talks at Acas on Tuesday, union officials said the negotiations would continue on Wednesday morning. |
The bitter row which preceded the talks has resulted in Ineos taking legal action over comments made by union officials. | The bitter row which preceded the talks has resulted in Ineos taking legal action over comments made by union officials. |
The company said Unite had claimed that Ineos had stripped £40m from the Grangemouth pension fund. | The company said Unite had claimed that Ineos had stripped £40m from the Grangemouth pension fund. |
"This is an extremely serious allegation and is completely untrue," an Ineos statement said. | "This is an extremely serious allegation and is completely untrue," an Ineos statement said. |
"We have asked Unite to retract their statement but they have refused to do so. | "We have asked Unite to retract their statement but they have refused to do so. |
"We therefore have no choice but to issue court proceedings in order to protect our reputation and to establish that the allegation is untrue." | "We therefore have no choice but to issue court proceedings in order to protect our reputation and to establish that the allegation is untrue." |
Governments on both sides of the border have urged the two sides to continue negotiations in a bid to avert the strike. | Governments on both sides of the border have urged the two sides to continue negotiations in a bid to avert the strike. |
They have also warned the public against panic-buying fuel in fear of supplies running short. | They have also warned the public against panic-buying fuel in fear of supplies running short. |