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| Staff at giant Ineos plant in Grangemouth vote for strike action | Staff at giant Ineos plant in Grangemouth vote for strike action |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Workers at the giant Ineos plant in Grangemouth have voted in favour of strike action. | Workers at the giant Ineos plant in Grangemouth have voted in favour of strike action. |
| Unite the Union said more than 81% of those who voted supported the action, prompted by a company investigation into the union's convener at the plant. | Unite the Union said more than 81% of those who voted supported the action, prompted by a company investigation into the union's convener at the plant. |
| Of the 889 who took part in the ballot, 723 backed strike action, while 165 members voted against it. | Of the 889 who took part in the ballot, 723 backed strike action, while 165 members voted against it. |
| Ineos said it was disappointed, adding the action would "hurt the site and could lead to closures and job losses." | |
| Bosses have said the petrochemical plant at the site could close by 2017 if costs were not reduced. | Bosses have said the petrochemical plant at the site could close by 2017 if costs were not reduced. |
| Ineos also jointly owns the refinery, which is attached to the chemical plant, with PetroChina. | Ineos also jointly owns the refinery, which is attached to the chemical plant, with PetroChina. |
| The union said about 700 staff were employed at the chemical plant while about 500 worked at the refinery. | The union said about 700 staff were employed at the chemical plant while about 500 worked at the refinery. |
| Workers at the site are due to hold a meeting with the union at 16:00 on Friday. | |
| The dispute began after Ineos launched an investigation into its employee Stephen Deans. | The dispute began after Ineos launched an investigation into its employee Stephen Deans. |
| Company investigation | |
| Mr Deans, who has worked at the Grangemouth site for 24 years, also serves as the union's convener and is chairman of the Falkirk Constituency Labour Party (CLP). | Mr Deans, who has worked at the Grangemouth site for 24 years, also serves as the union's convener and is chairman of the Falkirk Constituency Labour Party (CLP). |
| He was briefly suspended by the Labour Party in July following an investigation into claims of vote-rigging in Falkirk in the selection process to find a replacement for out-going Labour MP Eric Joyce. | He was briefly suspended by the Labour Party in July following an investigation into claims of vote-rigging in Falkirk in the selection process to find a replacement for out-going Labour MP Eric Joyce. |
| Mr Deans was subsequently cleared by the party and reinstated as the local party chairman. A police investigation into the issue was also dropped. | Mr Deans was subsequently cleared by the party and reinstated as the local party chairman. A police investigation into the issue was also dropped. |
| Since then, Ineos has begun its own investigation into Mr Deans. | Since then, Ineos has begun its own investigation into Mr Deans. |
| The company said it was investigating whether or not Mr Deans' activities were in line with his role as an employee and a convener. | The company said it was investigating whether or not Mr Deans' activities were in line with his role as an employee and a convener. |
| Ineos said their investigation was due to conclude on 18 October and a decision based on its findings would be published on 25 October. | |
| 'Union's behaviour' | |
| In a statement, Ineos said: "Ineos is disappointed that Unite's Grangemouth members have voted for industrial action over the Stephen Deans investigation." | |
| It added: "Any industrial action will hurt the site and could lead to closures and job losses." | |
| Calum MacLean, chairman of Ineos Petrochemicals UK, added: "Ineos will not be bullied by the union's behaviour. | |
| "There cannot be one rule for union officials and one rule for everyone else." | |
| In addition to voting for strike action, workers also backed action short of a strike. | |
| There were 889 votes cast, with 805 members voting for the action - 84 voted against. |