Skip to main content
Grangemouth bosses end bully lockout
Scottish plant powers up after workers take hit

Grangemouth's giant refinery and petrochemical complex was being fired back up last night amid relief across Scotland that owners Ineos had decided against closure and ended their week-long lockout of workers.

But even as politicians congratulated each other on the outcome the mood was charged with anger from the Scottish Trade Union Congress at the company's actions and bitterness at the sacrifices forced on the workers.

Welcoming news that billionaire Jim Ratcliffe - the major shareholder in Ineos - would reverse Wednesday's blitzkrieg decision to cut 800 jobs and close the petrochemical site, Unite Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty said: "Relief will ring right round the Grangemouth community and across Scotland.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
Coins in a Saltire purse
Features / 7 May 2026
7 May 2026

Years of underfunding are eroding Scotland’s local services and deepening inequality in communities, says VINCE MILLS

Waspi (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaigners stage a protest on College Green in Westminster, London, as Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves delivers her Budget in the Houses of Parliament, October 30, 2024
Editorial / 16 July 2025
16 July 2025
General view of the Alexander Dennis site at Camelon, near Falkirk
Scotland / 10 July 2025
10 July 2025
A bus under construction at the Alexander Dennis bus manufacturers in Falkirk
Voices of Scotland / 17 June 2025
17 June 2025

As bus builder Alexander Dennis threatens Falkirk closure and Grangemouth faces ruthless shutdown by tax exile Jim Ratcliffe, RICHARD LEONARD MSP warns that global corporations must be resisted by a bold industrial strategy based on public ownership