Oil refinery workers go on strike - News in brief - Evening Standard
       

Oil refinery workers go on strike

Striking oil workers held a mass rally at the Grangemouth refinery as a 48-hour walkout began.

Staff at Scotland's main fuel supplier stopped work at 6am in a dispute with operators Ineos over proposed changes to pensions.

The plant has been shut down along with a major BP pipeline which is powered by the site.

Up to 200 people gathered outside gate number four before noon.

Workers' families and local politicians were among those who turned out to show their support for members of the Unite union.

The workers held A4-sized placards with the slogan Scotland's Workers Deserve Better and held aloft red and white flags.

Michael Connarty, MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk, and Cathy Peattie, MSP for Falkirk East, addressed the rally.

Staff are striking over plans to end a final salary pension scheme for newcomers and other pension changes.

Earlier talks aimed at averting the industrial action failed to resolve the row.

The union has agreed to provide 100% safety cover at the site during the dispute.

News in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
Victoria Coren: My obsession with children, five proposals a week and why David and I are no power couple

Victoria Coren

David Mitchell and I are no power couple
The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition preview party

Summer party

Stars at the The Royal Academy of Arts
London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures

Diamond Jubilee

London gets ready - in pictures
The Glamour Awards - stars turn on the style

Glamour Awards

Stars turn on the style
Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink at her first Buckingham Palace garden party

Garden party

Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink
FIRST review of Ridley Scott's latest sci-fi blockbuster Prometheus

First review

Is Ridley Scott's Prometheus any good?
Fair-weather goths

Fair-weather goths

The sultry shades of summer darks are coming out of the shadows
Dog save the Queen: Corgis surge in popularity

Dog save the Queen

Corgis surge in popularity
'He’s a better ex than he was a husband', says Boris Johnson's ex wife

A better ex than husband

We talk to Boris Johnson's ex wife
TV Baftas - in pictures

Best of the Baftas

Stars on the red, white and blue carpet