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| Grangemouth refinery owner to hold strike talks with union | Grangemouth refinery owner to hold strike talks with union |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The operator of the Grangemouth refinery and petrochemical site is to begin talks with union bosses in a bid to avert a planned 48-hour strike. | The operator of the Grangemouth refinery and petrochemical site is to begin talks with union bosses in a bid to avert a planned 48-hour strike. |
| Members of the Unite union are planning to walk out on Sunday in a row over the treatment of a union convener. | Members of the Unite union are planning to walk out on Sunday in a row over the treatment of a union convener. |
| Ineos, operator of the site, said negotiations would start later at arbitration service Acas, in Glasgow. | Ineos, operator of the site, said negotiations would start later at arbitration service Acas, in Glasgow. |
| Unite said it had been "working tirelessly" over the weekend to secure the talks. | Unite said it had been "working tirelessly" over the weekend to secure the talks. |
| Ineos has warned that the threatened strike "could effectively shut much of Scotland" by disrupting fuel supply. | Ineos has warned that the threatened strike "could effectively shut much of Scotland" by disrupting fuel supply. |
| The strike could potentially disrupt the flow of Brent crude from the North Sea. | The strike could potentially disrupt the flow of Brent crude from the North Sea. |
| The Scottish and UK governments have been drawing up contingency plans and had called for more talks between the two sides. | The Scottish and UK governments have been drawing up contingency plans and had called for more talks between the two sides. |
| Announcing the talks on Sunday night, Ineos Grangemouth chairman Calum MacLean said: "We have always been prepared to go to Acas if this helps to resolve a strike that Grangemouth petrochemical plant and refinery cannot afford. | Announcing the talks on Sunday night, Ineos Grangemouth chairman Calum MacLean said: "We have always been prepared to go to Acas if this helps to resolve a strike that Grangemouth petrochemical plant and refinery cannot afford. |
| "We hope to be able to resolve the dispute and address the financial issues that threaten the survival of the entire site." | "We hope to be able to resolve the dispute and address the financial issues that threaten the survival of the entire site." |
| Previously, the company labelled the union action as "completely irresponsible" while the union accused Ineos of "gunboat irresponsible diplomacy". | Previously, the company labelled the union action as "completely irresponsible" while the union accused Ineos of "gunboat irresponsible diplomacy". |
| Unite Scottish Secretary Pat Rafferty said: "We welcome Ineos's change of heart to join us at Acas. | Unite Scottish Secretary Pat Rafferty said: "We welcome Ineos's change of heart to join us at Acas. |
| 'Encouraging step' | |
| "We've repeatedly urged the company to sit down with us at the conciliation service to resolve the issues surrounding the unfair treatment of our convenor and the future of Grangemouth. | "We've repeatedly urged the company to sit down with us at the conciliation service to resolve the issues surrounding the unfair treatment of our convenor and the future of Grangemouth. |
| "Over the weekend we have been working tirelessly to secure these talks and hope that the company will engage in them in an open constructive manner." | "Over the weekend we have been working tirelessly to secure these talks and hope that the company will engage in them in an open constructive manner." |
| UK Energy Secretary Ed Davey said the talks were a "very welcome and encouraging step." | |
| He added: "I have worked hard with both sides to persuade them to attend talks with Acas and I am extremely pleased that this is now happening. | |
| "Acas has the expertise to help both parties reach a sustainable solution for the company, the workforce and the whole economy." | |
| A spokeswoman for the Scottish government said contingency planning had been under way since the strike was announced. | |
| She said: "Ministers and officials have redoubled efforts to encourage Unite and Ineos to enter talks and we welcome the fact that they are now going to talk this afternoon. | |
| "It is important that both sides have time and space to progress discussions, resolve the issues between them and move away from strike action." | |
| Ineos has said it will do all it can to "minimise the harm" of a strike. | Ineos has said it will do all it can to "minimise the harm" of a strike. |
| The North Sea's Forties pipeline system could be affected because the Kinneil oil processing terminal - where oil from the Forties field comes ashore - relies on Grangemouth for its steam and power. | The North Sea's Forties pipeline system could be affected because the Kinneil oil processing terminal - where oil from the Forties field comes ashore - relies on Grangemouth for its steam and power. |
| Official suspended | |
| The dispute centres on union convener Stephen Deans, who was involved in the row over the selection of a Labour candidate in Falkirk. | The dispute centres on union convener Stephen Deans, who was involved in the row over the selection of a Labour candidate in Falkirk. |
| Labour cleared Unite after an investigation of trying to rig the selection of a party candidate - claims that led to a major row between the union and Ed Miliband. | Labour cleared Unite after an investigation of trying to rig the selection of a party candidate - claims that led to a major row between the union and Ed Miliband. |
| Mr Deans, who is chairman of both Labour's local constituency party and Unite in Scotland, was suspended by Ineos then reinstated. | Mr Deans, who is chairman of both Labour's local constituency party and Unite in Scotland, was suspended by Ineos then reinstated. |
| Ineos said an investigation by "a third party" into Mr Deans' conduct was due to be completed by 25 October. | Ineos said an investigation by "a third party" into Mr Deans' conduct was due to be completed by 25 October. |
| It recently launched a survival plan for Grangemouth, warning that the site would close by 2017 without investment and reduced costs. The company said the plant was losing £10m a month. | It recently launched a survival plan for Grangemouth, warning that the site would close by 2017 without investment and reduced costs. The company said the plant was losing £10m a month. |
| The Grangemouth refinery processes 210,000 barrels of oil per day and provides most of Scotland's fuel. It is owned jointly by Ineos and PetroChina. | The Grangemouth refinery processes 210,000 barrels of oil per day and provides most of Scotland's fuel. It is owned jointly by Ineos and PetroChina. |