Two in three reject Ineos' 'cynical blackmail' as Unite warns Scotland will be watching
The people of Scotland will be watching tomorrow and expecting you to 'fire up Grangemouth' was the message from Unite to Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos shareholders, as two in three Unite members at Grangemouth rejected the company's 'sign or be sacked' ultimatum.
665, over 65 per cent (80 per cent of the workers Unite bargains for) have so far rejected the company's cynical attempt to intimidate the workforce, a figure the union believes will grow despite Ineos' arbitrary deadline.
Urging the company back to ACAS, Pat Rafferty, Unite Scottish secretary said:
“This resounding rejection of the company's cynical blackmail sends a clear message to the company.
“The six hundred and sixty three people who have so far rejected Ineos' ultimatum are the backbone of the plant, the people who keep the site running and the oil flowing.
"The people of Grangemouth and Scotland will be expecting Jim Ratcliffe and the Ineos shareholders to now take heed. Do the right thing tomorrow, drop the threats to the workforce, fire up the plant and get around the table at ACAS.
“This is an overwhelming rejection of the company's blackmail and threats. This workforce has said that they want to secure a future for Grangemouth, free from fear, based on negotiation not confrontation.
“The shareholders at tomorrow's meeting need to recognise the strength of feeling among the workforce and instruct senior managers to get back to ACAS and to come clean about the company's finances. With Ineos making £2 billion in profits last year people don't think that their claims of financial distress stack up.
“We expect that number to grow and urge the bosses and the shareholders to see sense and get back around the table to secure a future for Grangemouth.”
