Union calls for politicians to back 'keep Grangemouth working' campaign as oil refinery set to close

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A union has called for greater support from the public and politicians for its campaign to protect jobs at the Grangemouth industrial complex.Unite wants owners Petroineos to delay the planned closure of its oil refinery until alternative jobs are secured at the site and energy security concerns have been evaluated.The union also wants the petrochemical giant to invest in Grangemouth to ensure the plant becomes a world class leader in renewable energies.Unite is now urging Scots to back its Keep Grangemouth Working campaign on social media.Derek Thomson, Unite Scottish Secretary, told the Record: "The initiative is part of Unite's wider campaign to support and retain the jobs of 500 highly-skilled oil refinery workers."However, it's also about supporting the thousands of jobs directly and indirectly dependent on the wider Grangemouth complex."We are clear that if we are going to extend the lifespan of the oil refinery then we are going to need the backing of local people,businesses and politicians."It's our ambition that this new social media platform will help us reach as many people as possible in our fight to save jobs."A fringe event will also take place at next week's STUC conference in Dundee where workers from Grangemouth will be among the speakers.Petroineos – co-owned by multi-billionaire tax exile and Manchester United ­shareholder Jim Ratcliffe – announced its intention last year to axe the oil refinery at Grangemouth and instead turn it into an import depot.The site is part of a joint venture between Ineos and the Chinese government.The firm has claimed the refinery is becoming unviable despite it making a £107million profit last year.Closure could have serious repercussions for energy security in the UK,