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Grangemouth dispute: Alex Salmond 'certain' on Ineos deal | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
First Minister Alex Salmond has said he is "absolutely certain" that the petrochemical plant at Grangemouth can be saved. | |
Staff are waiting to hear if owner Ineos will grant a reprieve to the closure-threatened operation. | |
About 800 jobs are under threat - and the company has already laid off about 2,000 contractors since it shut down the complex. | About 800 jobs are under threat - and the company has already laid off about 2,000 contractors since it shut down the complex. |
Ineos is due to make an official statement on the plant's future later. | Ineos is due to make an official statement on the plant's future later. |
Speaking on the BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, Mr Salmond said: "I would now be very hopeful indeed that there will be a change in position from Ineos and I'm absolutely certain there's a future for chemicals in Grangemouth. | |
"I believe there will be a change in position today and that will be a favourable change in position. | |
"My reason for saying that is that everybody has been going that extra mile I called for." | |
Political leaders had already expressed optimism after the union accepted a survival plan put forward by Ineos. | |
The BBC understands that an agreement was being drawn up for workers to sign, which would need approval from major Ineos shareholder Jim Ratcliffe. | The BBC understands that an agreement was being drawn up for workers to sign, which would need approval from major Ineos shareholder Jim Ratcliffe. |
On Thursday, Scotland's finance secretary John Swinney and the Scottish Secretary Alastair Carmichael held talks with unions and management at the site. Afterwards they said they were hopeful. | On Thursday, Scotland's finance secretary John Swinney and the Scottish Secretary Alastair Carmichael held talks with unions and management at the site. Afterwards they said they were hopeful. |
However, Ineos is yet to confirm whether it will reverse its decision to close the petrochemical plant at the complex. | However, Ineos is yet to confirm whether it will reverse its decision to close the petrochemical plant at the complex. |
An internal investigation by Ineos into the union convenor, Stephen Deans, is also due to be published later. | An internal investigation by Ineos into the union convenor, Stephen Deans, is also due to be published later. |
It was the firm's treatment of Mr Deans that first ignited the breakdown in industrial relations - before it became a battle for the survival of Scotland's largest industrial site. | It was the firm's treatment of Mr Deans that first ignited the breakdown in industrial relations - before it became a battle for the survival of Scotland's largest industrial site. |
The dispute at the site escalated to the threat of strike action. | The dispute at the site escalated to the threat of strike action. |
This was dropped but Ineos shut down the plant and issued an offer of revised terms and conditions in a survival plan, which was initially rejected by union members. | This was dropped but Ineos shut down the plant and issued an offer of revised terms and conditions in a survival plan, which was initially rejected by union members. |
The proposals included ending their final salary pension scheme and cut shift allowances. | The proposals included ending their final salary pension scheme and cut shift allowances. |
Previously, Ineos said it was ready to invest £300m in Grangemouth if workers agreed to the new terms and conditions. | Previously, Ineos said it was ready to invest £300m in Grangemouth if workers agreed to the new terms and conditions. |
The company said it had decided to close the plant because half the workforce had refused to accept the cost-cutting plan essential for the facility's survival. | The company said it had decided to close the plant because half the workforce had refused to accept the cost-cutting plan essential for the facility's survival. |
Ineos chairman and founder Jim Ratcliffe had said at the weekend that if the petrochemical plant closed it was likely the neighbouring refinery would go as well. | Ineos chairman and founder Jim Ratcliffe had said at the weekend that if the petrochemical plant closed it was likely the neighbouring refinery would go as well. |
The refinery provides most of the fuel to Scotland, the north of England and Northern Ireland. | The refinery provides most of the fuel to Scotland, the north of England and Northern Ireland. |
Ineos had said liquidators for the petrochemical plant would be appointed within a week. | Ineos had said liquidators for the petrochemical plant would be appointed within a week. |