Statement by Grahame Smith General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress in support of the emergency resolution on the INEOS refinery in Grangemouth carried at the Annual Congress today Monday 21 April 2008
CONGRESS, AS YOU KNOW THIS DISPUTE IS ABOUT MANGEMENT’S OUTRAGEOUS ATTACK ON A WELL FUNDED AND AFFORDABLE PENSION SCHEME.
A PENSION SCHEME DESCRIBED AS ‘LUCRATIVE’ BY THE PRESS. IT SEEMS THAT WORKERS’ SHOULD NOW BE GRATEFUL IF THE CONDITIONS THEY SIGNED UP TO ARE HONOURED. WOULD IT BE ACCEPTABLE TO ATTACK WAGES IN THE SAME WAY? NO IT WOULDN’T AND ITS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ATTACK WORKERS PENSIONS.
THIS DISPUTE – AND THE REPORTING OF THIS DISPUTE - HIGHLIGHTS MUCH OF WHAT IS WRONG IN OUR SOCIETY.
UNILATERAL AND PERNICIOUS ATTACKS ON WORKERS’ TERMS AND CONDITIONS ARE CONSISTENTLY JUSTIFIED IN THE NAME OF COMPETITIVENESS. THE IMPLICATION IS THAT IF OUR MEMBERS DON’T ACCEPT LESS, OUR MEMBERS WILL HAVE NOTHING.
NO ONE APART FROM US APPEARS WILLING TO CONDUCT ANY SORT OF RIGOROUS ASSESSMENT OF MANGEMENT CLAIMS IN THIS RESPECT. WHILST EXPERIENCE IN OTHER COUNTRIES IS OFTEN INVOKED TO PROMOTE CUTTING BUSINESS TAXES AND DEREGULATION – THE STRONG SOCIAL SAFETY NETS AND ROBUST EMPLOYMENT LEGISLATION IN EUROPE’S MOST SUCCESSFUL SOCIETIES ARE WILFULLY IGNORED.
CONGRESS – THE THEME OF THIS CONGRESS IS UNIONS WORK FOR EQUALITY AND JUSTICE. BUT THE SAD FACT IS THAT OUR SOCIETY IS BECOMING MORE EQUAL.
THE SHAMELESS GREED OF BILLIONAIRES SUCH AS INEOS OWNER JIM RATCLIFFE MASQUERADES AS THE CUTTING EDGE OF EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT….AND GOVERNMENT TELLS OUR MEMBERS THAT THE UPWARDS REDISTRIBUTION TO THE WEALTHIEST IN SOCIETY IS AN INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCE OF GLOBALISATION.
CONGRESS - IT IS NOT. RATHER JIM RATCLIFFE AND HIS ILK HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ACHIEVED, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A LARGELY COMPLICIT MEDIA, THE EFFECTIVE DEPOLITICISATION OF ECONOMIC ILLS.
FAILURES IN PUBLIC POLICY HAVE LED TO THE INCREASINGLY UNEQUAL SOCIETY IN WHICH WE LIVE. AND PUBLIC POLICY REMEDIES ARE AVAILABLE IF THE POLITICAL WILL CAN BE FOUND TO IMPLEMENT THEM.
THE CORE OF THIS REMEDY WILL BE FOUND IN STRONG LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN UNION AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS, TO SAFEGUARD JOBS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS FROM ATTACKS BY AGGRESSIVE EMPLOYERS STILL PURSUING THE BUSINESS MODEL CURRENTLY UNRAVELLING AROUND THE WORLD.
WE ARE SIMPLY NOT PREPARED TO ACCEPT THE SUPER RICH TO CONTINUING TO ACCRUE AN EVER LARGER SHARE OF THE FRUITS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH WHILST THE PAY AND PENSIONS OF OUR MEMBERS – THE PEOPLE WHO CREATE THE WEALTH – IS CONSISTENTLY UNDERMINED.
I CAN ASSURE UNITE AND THE WORKFORCE AT GRANGEMOUTH THAT THE STUC WILL STAND FOUR SQUARE BEHIND YOU. WE OFFER YOU OUR SOLIODARITY. AND, IF CALLED UPON, WE WILL PROVIDE ANY PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE YOU REQUIRE TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL RELSOUTION TO THIS DISPUTE.
WE DO NOT BELIEVE, AND WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED BY, MANAGEMENT OR MEDIA SCAREMONGERING. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DISPUTE FOR ALL SCOTLAND’S WORKERS – WE WILL ALL BE DIMINISHED IF YET ANOTHER ATTACK ON A WELL FUNDED PENSION SCHEME IS ALLOWED TO PREVAIL.
WE WILL NOT LET THAT HAPPEN. CONGRESS – SUPPORT THIS EMERGENCY MOTION.
ENDS
Emergency Motion No. 1
INEOS
“That this Congress strongly supports the 1200 Unite members at the INEOS Refinery in Grangemouth who will undertake industrial action to defend their pensions.
“Congress recognises that the Grangemouth refinery generates enormous profits as a result of the hard work and skill of its employees and is dismayed that their reward is an assault on their terms and conditions. This injustice is compounded as the company pension scheme is profitable, well-funded and affordable.
“Congress deplores the rank hypocrisy of management in attacking the company pension scheme as these are the very individuals who will enjoy fat-cat pension benefits in retirement.
“Congress further deplores the spin placed on the impending action by INEOS management and condemns stories that health & safety of the plant and local community will be compromised in any way.
“Congress emphasises that the union has consulted with management at every opportunity in order to satisfy all safety provisions in the event of shutdown including the extension of the statutory minimum period for notice of strike action.
“Congress acknowledges that it is a regrettable and painful decision for the workforce, many of whom are members of the local community.
“Congress resolves to campaign and support Unite members in the coming weeks as they fight for pensions’ justice.”
Mover - UNITE (T&G Section)
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