Grangemouth
 

How do you guys see this?

I really don't know what to think here. So many variables.

A scandal ridden union in disarray with unreasonable demands?

An intransigent boss determined to have his way?

Cheap imports undercutting the company forcing it to come up with a rescue plan setting worker rights back 20 years?

Alex Salmond soundbites claiming a victory for Scotland?

The UK promising to underwrite a £125 million investment even if Scotland gets home rule?

Personally I'm kinda falling into the boss camp, which sticks in my craw somewhat.

My current view on it...Muppet union jobsworth reps, with ridiculous expectations pushing their members into an untenable position. Union bosses have become exactly the same as their political counterparts....

i.e. in it for themselves

Re: Grangemouth
 

I see it as a no-win situation fer the workers, its as simple as that. unions to me have every right to try to protect pensions n cost of living etc, owners have every right to protect the business they own, if it was industrial blackmail i do not know?? The only good thing is they still got jobs,in this day n age thats gotta be summat.

Re: Grangemouth
 

Totally agree that at the least they have jobs....but if the union had given a little in the original negotiations maybe the workforce would have a better deal.
As it is now..they are screwed and at the mercy of the company..they have no negotiating power, they have signed away their right to strike for 3 years, they are scared for their jobs..it's not just a management win its a management walkover.

Those guys may as well stop paying their union subs and put what they save into a bank for the interest.

Re: Grangemouth
 

A sad tale. I feel very sorry for workers having to take a pay cut and a pension deduction and do not have much sympathy for the "multi-millionaire" head of t he company. Having said that, I acknowledge that my feelings may well be subject to a certain amount of media manipulation. I suspect that neither side (unions nor management)come out of this with un besmirched characters.

Re: Grangemouth
 

Ifs n Maybes, are yeh aware that it wasn't just Industrial Blackmail? cos i have no idea one way or the other.:confused: maybe it was n intransigent union. maybe it was the other?? Only those in any conflict know the real truth, in my experience.

Re: Grangemouth
 

Which is exactly why I said in my first post that I really don't know what to think..unfortunately the only losers here are the guys that turn the spanners and screwdrivers..the briefcase laden union reps and managers just move on to the next crisis

Re: Grangemouth
 

INEOS have got what they wanted ... no full time union representatives in the refinery or the petrochemical plant ..

Spugster lives not far from there .. and he said he was more sorry for the subbies rather than the ones who worked for ineos. He said they were told that they needed to make cutbacks .. like everyone else but they wouldn't except em ..they wouldn't to carry on on their £50,000 a year .. ineos warned what would happen .. they knew .. and so kicked everyone out of the job .. in fact the union walked right into the trap ineos set for em ... oh im sick and fed up of it all now .....

Re: Grangemouth
 

Q.E.D. Todays union reps are no different than politicians....in it for themselves and sod the plebs

Re: Grangemouth
 

When a Union calls everyone out on strike do the officials also go without their pay?

Re: Grangemouth
 

Since when have unions been able to call anyone out on strike? Thats a new un on me, The bitch that recently died put a stop to that practice, or have thing changed? cos thats new to me if so.:confused:

Re: Grangemouth
 

The full time officials most certainly get paid, the local shop stewards at the plant would not be paid.

Re: Grangemouth
 

True but the unions can't call anyone out these days.

Re: Grangemouth
 

As much as anything, I think that this whole sorry affair is an indicator that the economy is by no means out of the woods yet. When any environment, is under stress, it's occupants tend towards conflict due to desperation and a desire to maintain their own well-being. Unashamedly mixing my metaphors, I suspect that the light at the end of the tunnel recently alluded to by Plastic#2 (Mr Osborne) is not the exit from current darkness, but an express train about to squish those unable to get out of the way.

Re: Grangemouth
 

So looking around..it seems that a reasonable offer was on the table..no pay rises or bonuses for 3 years, reduction in extra pay for weekends and nights, pensions changed from final salary to what you actually put in..and no job losses! Current employees get an enhanced employer contribution to pensions and a lump sum of around £15k.

660ish of the 1350 workforce rejected the offer..which means around 700 agreed to it.

Yet briefcase union reps dug their heels in.

I'm at a loss here....

We'll guarantee your job if... you fall into line with the pay and conditions of doctors, nurses, policemen, firemen, care workers, plumbers etc..ad infinitum..or we will have to close the plant!

The majority see sense..

The union doesn't.... they only have 1000 or so members and see the figure of 660 as a majority, ignoring the 350 or so who aren't in the union as inconsequents, and tell management to get stuffed.

Result...no pay rises or bonuses for 3 years, reduction in extra pay for weekends and nights, pensions changed from final salary to what you actually put in..and probable job losses which will be kept to a minimum

Re: Grangemouth
 

the union actually called off the strike . the management done the shutdown ;) this was political as we will find out. the government scottish or uk gave the company an incentive to stay open. no union can shut down a factory now , only its members can if they dont turn up on the day.

Re: Grangemouth
 

In this case though media sources emphasised that due to the technicalities of running the plant, a projected strike; and don't forget you aren't allowed as management to actually asks potential strikers if they are going to strike or not, meant that they had to take the steps to close down safely some time before the actual strike date.

On the other hand, I'd still like the company to produce some figures on the profitability of the plant. Share holder gluttony dictates too much company policy and encourages some to "renegotiate" long held contract conditions. Such tactics are always top-down from corporations to individuals. I propose a UK version of the Arab Spring, perhaps a Britsh Winter where millions abandon major power suppliers and go to smaller independents as an alternative. Unfortunately apathy, mine included will see that this doesn't happen. First world problems aren't motivational enough.

Now where's my soapbox?:rolleyes:

Re: Grangemouth
 

Good old Arthur Scagille, would never have don't that would he Guinness:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Re: Grangemouth
 

Thing is though wi pensions having to be reduced,is in the 80s/90s Greedy barstward firms took "Pension Holidays" the reason given was there was too much money in the kitty n it would "NEVER" all be needed,I myself was one who argued wi em, about the Boom @ Bust cycle, But no they took a few years holiday,putting sod all in the pension pot,whilst workers still contributed their share weekly.:eek: Many are not aware of this fact,or choose to ignore it,:rolleyes: THat is the reason firms cannot now afford Final Pensions,:mad: Funny the pay offs n the like fer those that took this mad decision aint been affected as i can see,:(

Re: Grangemouth
 

they knew the end game .but if you think destroying whole communities and towns and not replacing industries and leaving full towns on the scrapheap that's alright then :confused:

Re: Grangemouth
 

Robert Maxwell was lambasted for stealing pensions, now its just the norm:( I wish we could get a decent press who would query this robbery. .ohh no I forgot these papers are funded by the very people who do these things.:mad::mad:

Re: Grangemouth
 

and the truth about grangemouth just as i suspected. The Grangemouth dispute makes it clear who really runs the country - Comment - Voices - The Independent the tories are connected to these;) the tories for britain i dont think so.