Union leaders are warning of disruption to fuel supplies throughout Scotland after announcing details of a 48-hour walkout at the sprawling Grangemouth refinery.
Unite served notice of strike action to site owner Ineos on Friday night, following bitter disagreements over the future operation of the plant and a row over the treatment of worker Stephen Deans.
Members are set to walk out for two days from 7am on Sunday October 20. Union chiefs insisted they had received an “overwhelming mandate” for strike action from the workforce.
Unite Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty claimed Ineos had refused to enter into mediation talks and rejected proposals for an independent financial survey of the Grangemouth plant.
“Unite has made every effort to pull Ineos back from the brink,” he said.
“A damaging strike may shut down the Grangemouth site, with serious ramifications for fuel production and supply throughout Scotland.”
Mr Rafferty insisted that Unite was still prepared to negotiate but said it would not do so “with a gun to our head”.
He added: “Ineos can end this dispute tomorrow if they step back from the brink. The ball is in their court.”
