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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
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| Effort to avert refinery strike | Effort to avert refinery strike |
| (8 minutes later) | |
| An independent expert has been brought in to try to avert a two-day strike by workers at the Grangemouth refinery. | An independent expert has been brought in to try to avert a two-day strike by workers at the Grangemouth refinery. |
| Workers belonging to Unite will begin strike action on Sunday over plans by the refinery's operator, Ineos, to change the company's pension scheme. | Workers belonging to Unite will begin strike action on Sunday over plans by the refinery's operator, Ineos, to change the company's pension scheme. |
| The Scottish Government said the president of the Faculty of Actuaries, Stewart Ritchie, would carry out a study into the management changes. | The Scottish Government said the president of the Faculty of Actuaries, Stewart Ritchie, would carry out a study into the management changes. |
| If agreed by both parties, the study would be financed by the government. | If agreed by both parties, the study would be financed by the government. |
| Production is expected to be hit as the first of the crude oil units is closed in a phased shutdown of the refinery, one of only nine in the UK. | Production is expected to be hit as the first of the crude oil units is closed in a phased shutdown of the refinery, one of only nine in the UK. |
| The plant supplies the whole of Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England. | The plant supplies the whole of Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England. |
| Scottish Ministers said Mr Ritchie, formerly of the Association of British Insurers and the National Association of Pension Funds, would conduct the study into the pension plans in a bid to clarify the issues which are in dispute. | Scottish Ministers said Mr Ritchie, formerly of the Association of British Insurers and the National Association of Pension Funds, would conduct the study into the pension plans in a bid to clarify the issues which are in dispute. |
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| Forecourt customers react to the potential shortages | Forecourt customers react to the potential shortages |
| The report would be non-binding and if agreement were not reached at the end of a new consultation process, industrial action could ensue. | The report would be non-binding and if agreement were not reached at the end of a new consultation process, industrial action could ensue. |
| Finance Secretary John Swinney said it was "not acceptable" for the dispute to go unresolved. | Finance Secretary John Swinney said it was "not acceptable" for the dispute to go unresolved. |
| He said: "This is a matter that must be solved by constructive dialogue involving both parties. | He said: "This is a matter that must be solved by constructive dialogue involving both parties. |
| "As president of the Faculty of Actuaries, Stewart Ritchie is in a unique position to provide the distinguished, independent and quality advice needed to help the parties concerned to find a resolution to these issues. | "As president of the Faculty of Actuaries, Stewart Ritchie is in a unique position to provide the distinguished, independent and quality advice needed to help the parties concerned to find a resolution to these issues. |
| "Such independent expertise will clarify the situation and should ensure both parties reach the amicable solution which I am convinced is possible without the disruption that any potential strike action may cause." | "Such independent expertise will clarify the situation and should ensure both parties reach the amicable solution which I am convinced is possible without the disruption that any potential strike action may cause." |
| Mr Swinney said the study would be available to both parties by the end of May. | Mr Swinney said the study would be available to both parties by the end of May. |
| Operators have begun a scaled shutdown of the plant in anticipation of a two-day strike on 27 and 28 April by Unite union members. | Operators have begun a scaled shutdown of the plant in anticipation of a two-day strike on 27 and 28 April by Unite union members. |
| The company has warned that a strike would mean "chaos" for fuel supplies. | The company has warned that a strike would mean "chaos" for fuel supplies. |
| However, the union said Ineos was "scaremongering" over the impact of the strike. | However, the union said Ineos was "scaremongering" over the impact of the strike. |