Hope of end to oil refinery dispute

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The move followed peace talks between leaders of the Unite union and bosses from Ineos, which owns the giant refinery in Scotland.

Ineos chief Jim Ratcliffe took part in the meeting, held within hours of the end of a 48-hour strike by 1,200 workers, which led to the closure of Grangemouth.

A brief joint statement said: "A meeting was held in London today (Tuesday) between Jim Ratcliffe and Tom Crotty of Ineos and the joint general secretaries of Unite, Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley.

"It was a constructive and meaningful discussion and ended in a proposal that will be considered by the company and the union in the coming days with a view to finding a resolution to the pensions dispute."

The Grangemouth complex was returning to production after the strike, which was held in protest at the planned closure of Ineos's final salary pension scheme to new workers.

Business Secretary John Hutton visited Grangemouth earlier on Tuesday and welcomed the new talks, adding: "There is a gap between the two sides that has got to be bridged - only the two parties themselves can reach an agreement. No one can do that for them. But I hope there is now a mood to try and reach an agreement."

Mr Hutton said he had travelled to Edinburgh to voice his "appreciation and respect" for work done by the Scottish Government to minimise the impact of the dispute.

Mr Hutton met Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, who said: "We are anxious that everything that we say contributes to the resolution of the dispute - and that nothing that we or anybody else say should be seen as aggravating things again."

Mr Hutton denied the Labour Government's pensions policy had been a factor in the dispute, saying that increased longevity was putting pressure on final salary pension schemes around the world.