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| Oil refinery talks as strike ends | Oil refinery talks as strike ends |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Talks are set to take place between the Grangemouth oil refinery management and striking workers as staff return to the plant after a 48-hour walk-out. | |
| The industrial action disrupted fuel supplies and halted much of the UK's North Sea oil production. | The industrial action disrupted fuel supplies and halted much of the UK's North Sea oil production. |
| It is expected to be at least a week before the plant is fully operational again after 1,200 workers walked out. | It is expected to be at least a week before the plant is fully operational again after 1,200 workers walked out. |
| However, the Unite union has said it is hopeful that the informal talks in London could lead to a resolution. | |
| The union's joint general secretary Tony Woodley is expected to sit down with Ineos owner Jim Ratcliffe at a secret location early on Tuesday afternoon. | |
| Unite had warned the dispute over pension changes at the Ineos plant could lead to more industrial action. | |
| Oil prices rise | Oil prices rise |
| UK Business Secretary John Hutton and Scotland's Finance Secretary John Swinney have visited the Grangemouth plant to urge Ineos bosses and union officials to work towards resolving the dispute. | |
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| Extra fuel supplies arriving by ship on Monday | Extra fuel supplies arriving by ship on Monday |
| Pickets left the gates of the refinery after the strike ended at 0600 BST, with the first shift returning to work at 0700 BST. | |
| On Monday evening, Prime Minister Gordon Brown held talks with Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond at the House of Commons. | On Monday evening, Prime Minister Gordon Brown held talks with Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond at the House of Commons. |
| A Downing Street spokesman said they had discussed the steps being taken to resolve the industrial dispute. | A Downing Street spokesman said they had discussed the steps being taken to resolve the industrial dispute. |
| The meeting came as oil prices hit a record high of almost $120 (£60) a barrel and Opec, the oil producing cartel, warned prices could keep rising to $200. | The meeting came as oil prices hit a record high of almost $120 (£60) a barrel and Opec, the oil producing cartel, warned prices could keep rising to $200. |
| There is a gap between the two sides that has got to be bridged - only the two parties themselves can reach an agreement John HuttonBusiness Secretary class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7372863.stm">Refinery start-up process begins | |
| Meanwhile, the UK's two largest oil companies, Shell and BP, have delivered their latest financial results amid record petrol prices at the pumps. | Meanwhile, the UK's two largest oil companies, Shell and BP, have delivered their latest financial results amid record petrol prices at the pumps. |
| Shell reported first quarter profits of $7.7bn (£3.92bn) for the three months to 31 March, while BP posted $6.59bn (£3.32bn) first quarter figures, a rise of 48% from $4.4bn. | |
| The Grangemouth strike, which began on Sunday, halted almost half the UK's North Sea oil production when a key pipeline powered by the plant was closed. | The Grangemouth strike, which began on Sunday, halted almost half the UK's North Sea oil production when a key pipeline powered by the plant was closed. |
| BBC Scotland correspondent Colin Blane said it would have cost the economy £50m a day. | BBC Scotland correspondent Colin Blane said it would have cost the economy £50m a day. |
| He said the unions were considering whether to give notice of another possible strike as the deadlock over pensions had not been broken. | He said the unions were considering whether to give notice of another possible strike as the deadlock over pensions had not been broken. |
| Mr Hutton and Mr Swinney, however, are encouraging the two sides to work together to ensure production at the refinery is back up to capacity as quickly as possible. | Mr Hutton and Mr Swinney, however, are encouraging the two sides to work together to ensure production at the refinery is back up to capacity as quickly as possible. |
| Mr Hutton is also set to hold talks with representatives from the oil and gas industries as well as members of the Scottish Government.Extra fuel supplies were delivered to petrol stations | Mr Hutton is also set to hold talks with representatives from the oil and gas industries as well as members of the Scottish Government.Extra fuel supplies were delivered to petrol stations |
| Speaking at Grangemouth, Mr Hutton said: "I'm glad that the union said that there should be a pause for reflection and I'm very glad that later today there will be discussions between the unions and the company to try and find a way of resolving this dispute. | |
| "There is a gap between the two sides that has got to be bridged - only the two parties themselves can reach an agreement. | |
| "No-one can do that for them. But I hope there is now a mood to try and reach an agreement." | |
| Mr Swinney said it was now incumbent on those at the centre of the dispute to work together. | |
| He added: "What the two governments will be encouraging is a process of dispute resolution between the two parties, that they focus on those essential differences and work to resolve them and to avoid any possibility of further strike action." | |
| The Scottish Government is shipping about 65,000 tonnes of fuel, mostly diesel, from Europe to bolster supplies. | The Scottish Government is shipping about 65,000 tonnes of fuel, mostly diesel, from Europe to bolster supplies. |