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Grangemouth industrial dispute
21/04/2008
First Minister Alex Salmond has written to Holyrood party leaders and the Presiding Officer updating them on Scottish Government contingency plans for any disruption caused by the planned strike at the Grangemouth refinery.
Mr Salmond repeated his call for Grangemouth operator INEOS and the Unite trade union to resume negotiations in order to avert action which could have very damaging consequences for the people of Scotland.
The Scottish Government is exploring options for mitigating any possible impact to key services and to the public, including measures to secure fuel supplies if the action goes ahead.
The FM wrote:
"You will be aware of the possibility that has arisen over the last few days of industrial action at the Grangemouth refinery on April 27 and 28.
"The Scottish Government has urged management at the plant and the Unite union to resolve their differences in order to avert action which could have very damaging consequences for the people of Scotland. However we are also taking appropriate contingency measures in case the industrial action does take place.
"When initial indications of possible industrial action surfaced towards the end of last week, the Scottish Government activated its corporate contingency arrangements to ensure that appropriate steps were being taken both locally and nationally to assess the potential impact of any disruption to fuel production at the refinery, and, most importantly, to explore options for mitigating any possible impact to key services and to the public.
In particular:
- Nationally - The SEER Cabinet Sub-Committee for Civil Contingencies met on Friday, April 18 and again today (Sunday, April 20) to ensure that Scottish Government and others are monitoring the situation, considering the potential impacts and ensuring that suitable contingency arrangements are in place to manage the consequences. My Cabinet colleagues and I will continue to meet for as long as the possibility of disruption remains. We will also keep in touch with our colleagues in the UK Government
- Locally - We have also asked Scotland's eight Strategic Co-ordinating Groups (SCGs) - which comprise the emergency services, local authorities and other key agencies across each of Scotland's police force regions - to consider the issues that may need to be addressed locally in the event of any disruption to fuel supplies. All of Scotland's SCGs will be meeting within the next two days, and my officials are in direct contact with our emergency services and key responders to ensure that the activity of Government is informed by local needs
- By Sector - Scottish Government officials are also liaising with individual operators and agencies to consider potential issues at a sector by sector level and, working through the Scottish Government Emergency Room, ensuring that these are also considered within the strategic discussions of government and local responders
"To summarise, we hope that industrial action will not take place; we are taking measures to secure fuel supplies if it does; and we are taking prudent contingency measures to prepare for a range of possible scenarios.
"John Swinney will be available over the next few days to provide a more detailed briefing to each of your party spokespersons and to keep you in touch with the situation as it develops."