Unite, a trade union, has criticised Labour ministers, accusing them of giving a false impression about a redundancy deal for workers at Grangemouth oil refinery. The union says the government is trying to take credit for an agreement that Unite alone made with the refinery’s owners, Petroineos.
Keir Starmer had told workers at the Scottish Labour conference that they would get 18 months of “income protection.” But Unite says this income support wasn’t arranged by the UK Government, and they want a clear explanation from Ian Murray, a Labour politician.
Derek Thomson, Unite’s leader in Scotland, wrote a letter asking what kind of support the government is referring to, since it wasn’t part of the union’s deal. He says the government is not involved in the agreement and should not claim credit for it.
The refinery at Grangemouth is being shut down because the owners said it is no longer financially workable. Unite managed to secure a redundancy package equal to 18 months’ wages for around 400 staff.
Thomson also said it’s wrong for politicians to talk about the deal as if it’s their own. He warned that workers would see this as another empty promise, especially since the union has not received proper details from either the UK Government or Scottish Labour.
So far, 377 workers have taken voluntary redundancy and 28 have been laid off.
Meanwhile, the UK and Scottish Governments are looking into future job opportunities for the site. A report funded by both governments, called Project Willow, suggested options like turning Grangemouth into a hub for producing eco-friendly jet fuel. This would require building a special plant by the early 2030s.
A UK Government spokesperson said they understand this is a difficult time for workers and their families. They said they are working hard with the Scottish Government and local partners to support staff and bring new investment to the area, including funding worth £300 million through various programs.
