Union Unite has branded Ineos as "reckless and destabilising" after the energy firm gave notice it wants to scrap legal bargaining agreements with the organisation.

Recently, workers at the Grangemouth chemicals facility rejected a pay offer from the company following a three-year pay freeze.

Unite is seeking a 3.25% pay rise for their members, while the company is offering a 2.8% increase for newer grades of staff and 1.4%, with a 1.4% lump sun, for staff with longer service.

However, the offer was unanimously rejected by workers in consultative votes, and Unite had requested that Ineos move the discussions to a higher level of management, in line with the existing recognition agreement.

Ineos has now revealed it wants to end union agreements in the chemical and infrastructure sections of the Grangemouth plants.


Previously, Unite was involved in two major disputes with Ineos over the treatment of workers at the Grangemouth petrochemical refinery in 2008 and 2013.

During the second dispute, Ineos announced it would close the plant with the loss of 800 jobs. However, it reversed its decision after workers agreed to a survival plan.

Unite Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty, said Unite's demands for a 3.25% pay rise is "more than reasonable" and the organisation intends to achieve a negotiated agreement.

"We would encourage Ineos to think again and to row back from what is an unnecessary act of aggression towards their own workforce," he said.

"This is an incredibly foolish attempt to undermine the democratic rights of Grangemouth workers, so that Ineos can be free to squeeze every last bit of profit out of their jobs, wages, and conditions.

"If there's to be reasonable balance and fairness in the workplace, Ineos needs to recognise that workers have a right to a collective, democratic voice through their union. Employers can't just go ahead and do what they like without consultation and negotiation.

"If Ineos doesn't change its mind, we will simply go through the normal legal procedures, and push for an independent ballot of workers."

Unite added similar pay talks for workers at the nearby Petroineos oil refinery are continuing and will resume next week.

(LM/CD)