slfjambo Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Extra oil due to dock in Scotland Additional supplies of fuel are due to begin arriving in Scotland to cope with the Grangemouth strike which is nearing the end of its first day. More than 1,000 staff at Scotland's only oil refinery walked out for 48-hours on Sunday amid a pensions row. Meanwhile, UK and Scottish ministers have urged the two sides to get back round the negotiating table. A tanker laden with 3,000 tonnes of diesel and kerosene was due to dock in Aberdeen on Sunday evening. Seven additional shipments will also arrive in the Forth into the early part of next week, containing nearly 65,000 tonnes of fuel, to provide 10 days' worth. Grangemouth staff walked out at 0600 BST, before picketing the refinery and holding a rally. They will continue their walkout on Monday. The strike also caused the closure of BP's key Forties oil pipeline, which provides 30% of the UK's daily oil output from the North Sea. Refinery operator Ineos and the Unite union both agreed it was a "sad day" for Grangemouth, but they have yet to agree fresh talks to resolve the dispute. Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, said: "What must happen now is that the two parties engage in discussions to resolve the dispute as quickly as possible." He went on: "From across Europe, unprecedented supplies of additional fuel are arriving over the coming days to make up for the loss of production at Grangemouth. "This will provide extra reassurance for consumers and businesses alike as we look ahead to the coming working week." News of the strike sparked a period of increased buying - leaving some of Scotland's 956 filling station forecourts short The Scottish Government said that by Midday on Saturday, five were out of fuel and 70 were partly out of fuel - but warned there may be problems at the beginning of next week as they waited to be replenished. Industry body, Oil and Gas UK, said the strike could cost the UK ?50m a day. Ineos general manager Gordon Grant said the company's current contribution to employees' pensions was "unsustainable", adding that Grangemouth needed ?750m investment - or jobs would be jeopardised in a competitive sector. He said: "We bent over backwards to try and avoid this strike but, unfortunately, the trade unions have decided to go ahead with it - premature in our view - but that's what they've done." Pat Rafferty, from the union Unite, told the BBC that members were still willing to speak with management and claimed the public had given the striking workers a lot of support. He said: "We've been backed into a corner a bit by the stance the company's taking. It's something we've got no pleasure out of and that's been reflected in our members walking out." Douglas Robertson, chief executive of the Scottish Motor Trade Association, which represents petrol retailers in Scotland, said members of the public were unnecessarily stocking up on fuel and putting supplies at risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nucky Thompson Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Shed:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tams bird Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 petrol ,not diesel please... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Winstone Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Dont see what all the fuss is about - up here in Aberdeen most petrol stations have all pumps working and no ques! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Old Tolbooth Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 petrol ,not diesel please... Sod the petrol, I want diesel! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tams bird Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 Sod the petrol, I want diesel! half and half then , Not in the same tanker though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maximus Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 Dont see what all the fuss is about - up here in Aberdeen most petrol stations have all pumps working and no ques!1 word - Brainwashing. It's another case of the mass media tool being misused to spread their agenda rather than facts, we have seen/heard every worst case scenario and put up with the same news over and over in every minute detail every ferking day for the last week but next to nothing about the fact it's only a 2 day strike and next to nothing about why there is a strike in the first place. Don't panic they tell us, that is exactly what they are trying to create if you ask me. Get people rushing to the pumps and paying for fuel they don't need, meanwhile we just don't give the workers back what was taken away from them, great idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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