Drivers have been warned not to panic buy fuel as the only oil refinery in Scotland faces 48-hour strike action.
A war of words between unions and the owners of the Grangemouth oil refinery and petrochemical plant continued last night amid warnings next week’s strike could “shut most of Scotland”.
The threat of a strike by fuel tanker drivers last March sparked panic buying with forecourts across the country forced to ration supplies.
But both UK and Scottish Governments last night said contingency measures to get fuel from other refineries across the UK are in place, allowing motorists to “carry on as normal”.
The two-day Grangemouth strike threat has been sparked by a row over the union activities of Unite official Stevie Deans, who was involved in the disputed selection of a Labour candidate in Falkirk. He was suspended, then reinstated as a result of the allegations surrounding the poll.
Unite members are due to walk out for 48 hours from 7am on 0ctober 20 over the treatment of Mr Deans.
Operator Ineos has indicated that to safely close the refinery and then reopen it could take up to three weeks. But British Energy Secretary Edward Davey said motorists should not be concerned at this stage.
He said: “We have been working closely with the fuel industry and Scottish Government to put robust alternative supply routes in place in case of a strike, which means that motorists can carry on as normal and other impacts will be kept to a minimum.”
He called on both sides of the dispute to start talks on ending the stalemate.
Ineos Chairman Calum MacLean said: “Unite’s decision to strike is completely irresponsible. Unite could effectively shut much of Scotland. Discussions have certainly not been exhausted. We told them that we would be willing to go to Acas at the appropriate time but rather than negotiate they prefer to strike.
“We will do all we can to minimise the harm this Unite strike does to the people of Scotland and the north of England. We have high fuel stocks in the refinery and a contingency plan to use the site as an import terminal to bring additional fuel in by sea if needed.”
Ineos recently launched a survival plan for Grangemouth, warning that the site will close by 2017 without investment and cost-cutting. The company said it was losing £10 million a month.
Unite’s Scottish Secretary Pat Rafferty said: “Ineos management knows full well that we have twice requested that they join us for talks at the conciliation service Acas. On both occasions, it was Ineos who rejected the offer.
“The company also dismissed the findings of the local inquiry into Stephen Deans, as well as the decisions of Police Scotland and the Labour Party. Had they accepted the local outcome to the investigation we would not be in this position now.
“It is difficult to believe that Ineos is interested in a negotiated solution to the problems before us. But for the third time we now offer to attend talks with the company at Acas. We are ready to go there at any time.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We are disappointed that strike action is now planned by Unite at Grangemouth.
“We will now redouble our efforts to encourage negotiation to avert a strike, whilst taking forward contingency planning activity.
“This dispute can only be properly and fully resolved by negotiation between the company and the trade unions.”
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