THE UK and Scottish governments have been criticised by a major trade union after ministerial media appearances focusing on Grangemouth over the weekend.
Unite, one of Scotland’s biggest trade unions with around 150,000 members, expressed anger after UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks, and his Scottish Government counterpart Gillian Martin, said they were “confident” the workforce would find new jobs following the closure of the site.
Sharon Graham, the trade union’s general secretary, accused the two government figures of “fantasy talk”.
Grangemouth oil refinery will close by next summer, with four-fifths of workers, approximately 475 people, expected to lose their jobs. The site is set to be transformed into a scaled-down facility for importing and distributing “finished fuels”.
Grangemouth’s total economic contribution stands at £403.6 million, with 2822 direct, indirect and induced jobs reliant on its operations, according to Scottish Enterprise.
The organisation said that while Labour saw major gains in Scotland at the July General Election, they had “utterly failed to deliver” for staff at the plant.
“Scotland backed Labour at the ballot box but so far Labour has utterly failed to deliver for the Grangemouth workers when it needed them most,” said Graham.
She went on: “Over the last few days, our members have witnessed government ministers condescendingly speaking about ready-made jobs being available. It is fantasy talk from people who have no clue about the realities on the ground. We need urgent action to support the workers of today not just warm words from ministers about the projects of the future.”
The trade union’s Scottish secretary Derek Thomson added that members are “furious” and feel “utterly betrayed” by both Westminster and Holyrood.
“Ministers are deliberately downplaying and deflecting from the industrial wreckage which they have allowed to happen,” he said. “They have collectively failed the workforce.”
“Hundreds of millions of pounds are in danger of being sucked out of the economy and hundreds of jobs dependent on the refinery are now at immediate risk”.
In recent days, SNP MSP Michelle Thomson has spoken of a potential buyer for the site. This was contradicted by Martin, who said she was "wary" of this talk.
Thomson says a non-disclosure agreement is preventing her from divulging details about a possible buy-out.
When the decision to close the site was announced on Thursday, both the UK and Scottish governments announced a £100 million investment package in the hopes of improving prospects in the Grangemouth area.
Around £20m will be split evenly by the Scottish and UK governments to be invested in existing industrial sites in the area, with firms being incentivised to take on Grangemouth workers facing redundancy.
The remaining £80m will be used to encourage new businesses to set up shop in the region and take on Grangemouth workers.
