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British refinery bosses, union leaders meet after strike
LONDON
Petroleumworld.com, April 30, 2008Trade union leaders and bosses from the British oil refinery where workers recently returned from a two-day strike began studying new proposals to end their dispute Tuesday.
In a joint statement, officials from trade union Unite and executives from Ineos, which owns the Grangemouth refinery in Scotland, said a meeting in London had produced a proposal which both sides would consider in the coming days.
Their meeting came after the 48-hour strike over pensions by about 1,200 employees at the Grangemouth site, between Glasgow and Edinburgh, ended Tuesday morning, though it could take some time before normal operations are resumed.
"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 statement said.
Britain's Business Secretary John Hutton welcomed the talks, saying he hoped "there is now a mood to try and reach an agreement."
"We have an opportunity now to try and resolve this dispute. Both sides should show restraint and responsibility, and create the space to allow an agreement to be reached."The strike hit fuel supplies and helped push oil prices to record highs, as the government moved to prevent further walk-outs.
Britain's offshore energy industry body Oil and Gas UK has estimated the dispute could cost the domestic economy more than 50 million pounds (63.8 million euros, 99.4 million dollars).
The walkout forced the closure of the refinery's neighbouring Forties pipeline, which supplies 40 percent of Britain's oil and gas.
The pipeline brings more than 700,000 barrels of crude oil ashore every day, supplying Britain and international markets. It cannot function without power and steam from Grangemouth.
Queues formed at many petrol stations across Scotland and into northern England amid concern that the pumps would run dry. There were reports of bulk-buying and profiteering.
Many petrol stations introduced rationing, as the Scottish government ordered fuel to be imported by sea tankers to boost supplies.
Story from AFP
AFP 29 2114 GMT 04 08
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