Latest news with #SharonGraham
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Sabic confirms closure of Teesside chemical plant with jobs to go
Hundreds of workers could lose their jobs after the manufacturing and chemicals giant Sabic announced the closure of its site in north-east Saudi Arabian firm, one of the world's largest petrochemical manufacturers, will shut its Olefins 6 cracker plant in Wilton, Teesside, after 46 years of it exact number of job losses is not yet known but the firm currently employs 330 people at the said its decision was the result of a "thorough analysis aimed at optimising competitiveness", but Unite said the news was a "disgrace" from a profitable company. The firm made a net profit of almost £300m last year but last month it was reported that Sabic could be looking to sell its European petrochemicals business amid high energy Teeside Olefins 6 cracker facility produces the raw material ethylene to make building blocks for a variety of company produces chemicals, fertilisers, plastics and metals at its plant in Wilton, near Redcar, but also has storage and logistics facilities in North Tees and Teesport. 'Devastating blow' Its Olefins 6 facility had been offline since the end of 2020 and was due to be converted to run entirely on gas feedstocks. Unite said its members had been paid to keep the plant safe and ready to come back online for future Graham, Unite general secretary, said: "It is a disgrace that valued workers are being threatened with redundancy by a profitable company."Fazia Hussain-Brown, Unite regional officer, said the potential loss of so many jobs was a "devastating blow".She said there were "few options" for alternative employment for the workers which had "understandably" caused "a lot of anger". 'Support our employees' Consultations are expected to begin on 1 said the decision to shut the plant was also down to ensuring "the company [remained] agile and resilient in an evolving global landscape".They told the BBC: "Sabic is committed to carrying out a meaningful collective consultation with employee representatives and a fair redundancy process consistent with applicable legal requirements, as well as implementing other support measures aimed at minimising the impact on employees. "The company's priority is to support our employees during this difficult time and to remain focused on the safe, compliant, and reliable operation of its remaining assets on Teesside."They confirmed the LDPE plant operations in Teesside would continue to operate normally. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Glasgow subway closed as workers stage day of strike action
Glasgow's subway is closed as workers stage a day of strike action. Shutters were down at station across the city while staff took to picket lines for the first of three planned days of strikes are due to a dispute between Unite the union and subway operator Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) over working union has claimed the underground is badly understaffed, an accusation SPT has rejected. The operator had not previously confirmed whether the strikes - which are due to continue on Friday and Saturday - would mean the complete closure of the service, but no stations were open on Wednesday said the amount of overtime faced by train drivers and station staff, combined with frequent late changes to rotas, had left staff feeling Graham, the union's general secretary, said SPT had failed to deliver decent working conditions for added: "It has had every opportunity to sort out understaffing, shift pay and working hours."The workers have rightly said enough is enough because the subway is running on empty." An SPT spokesperson said the operator remained "committed to seeking a resolution through positive ongoing negotiations".A social media post said that season ticket holders affected by the strikes will receive one day of pay as you go credit credit on their smartcard per affected day. Last week SPT made an interim offer to try to deal with Unite's concerns, which union members rejected. Getting to Summer Sessions gigs The strikes coincide with three major gigs at Bellahouston Park, which concert goers often reach via walking from the subway station at Sting headlines at the park on Wednesday, with rock bands Simple Minds and Stereophonics taking to the stage on Friday and said it would provide extra late-night services from Dumbreck directly back to Glasgow Central station after the Sting a result trains on the Paisley Canal line will operate between Glasgow Central and Dumbreck only from 22.00 onwards.A replacement bus service serving the stations on the rest of the route.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Glasgow Subway strikes announced during Summer Sessions events
GLASGOW Subway workers are set to go on strike, causing disruption around a series of major gigs. On Tuesday, Unite the union confirmed more than 100 Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) workers had voted to reject an interim offer tabled by employers. The National told how previous strikes – which were meant to take place last weekend – were suspended in an "act of good faith" in order to vote on the interim offer. Strike action is now set to take place on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, disrupting three Summer Sessions gigs in Bellahouston Park. READ MORE: Plans published for revamp of Glasgow's Buchanan Galleries after demolition axed Sting is set to perform on Wednesday, while Simple Minds play on Friday and Stereophonics play on Saturday. Workers say they believe the Subway system is "struggling" to operate due to "chronic understaffing", while staff are "routinely working up to 10 hours beyond contracted hours" to keep the system running. The union said its members were often called in to work shifts at short notice, "leading to significant work-life pressures". Commenting, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Unite's Glasgow subway members are fed up with SPT's half measures and failure to deliver decent working conditions. 'It has had every opportunity to sort out understaffing, shift pay and working hours. The workers have rightly said enough is enough because the subway is running on empty. SPT know what it needs to do to resolve the dispute but has entirely failed to act. ' READ MORE: 'Unexplained' death as man's body found inside caravan in Dundee Andrew Brown, Unite industrial officer, said: 'The offer tabled by SPT was overwhelmingly rejected by our members. 'Strike action is now set to take place over a series of days bringing the subway to a stop. SPT has only itself to blame for failing to come up with any workable solution to this dispute which stretches back to last year." An SPT spokesperson said: ''Despite ongoing negotiations and a revised reasonable and fair offer being made to Unite the Union, Union members have decided to go ahead with planned industrial action on Wednesday 25 June, Friday 27 June and Saturday 28 June. "As a result, Subway customers are advised to make alternative travel arrangements across all three days (25, 27 & 28 June 2025). Customers are advised to monitor social media for updates. Full services will run Thursday 26 June from 0630 and Sunday 29 June from 1000. "SPT remains committed to seeking a resolution through positive ongoing negotiations.'
Scotsman
4 days ago
- General
- Scotsman
Glasgow subway strikes set to clash with Summer Sessions gigs after workers reject offer
Glasgow subway is set for disruption in the coming days after workers voted to strike. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Glasgow subway strikes are set to go ahead this week after workers 'overwhelmingly rejected' a pay deal on Tuesday. The walk-outs, which coincide with Summer Sessions at Bellahouston Park, are planned on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad More than 100 Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) staff are to take part in the industrial action, which Unite The Union said 'will bring the Glasgow subway to a stop'. The dispute is over working conditions of the STP workers, as Unite believes the subway system is 'struggling to operate due to chronic understaffing'. A continuous overtime ban has been in place from June 13. Action was suspended on Saturday (June 21) to allow a ballot to be held on the interim offer on pay, terms and conditions. A Glasgow subway is set for disruption in the coming days after workers voted to strike. station in Glasgow | PA According to Unite, train drivers and station staff are routinely working up to 10 hours beyond contracted hours (39 hours) a week to keep the system operating without any improvements to the shift, overtime, and weekend allowances. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Unite said their members are also repeatedly called in to work shifts at short notice leading to significant work-life pressures. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Unite's Glasgow subway members are fed up with SPT's half measures and failure to deliver decent working conditions. 'It has had every opportunity to sort out understaffing, shift pay and working hours. The workers have rightly said enough is enough because the subway is running on empty. SPT know what it needs to do to resolve the dispute but has entirely failed to act.'
The National
4 days ago
- Business
- The National
Glasgow Subway set for disruption as strikes announced
On Tuesday, Unite the union confirmed more than 100 Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) workers had voted to reject an interim offer tabled by employers. The National told how previous strikes – which were meant to take place last weekend during Glasgow's Summer Sessions – were suspended in an "act of good faith", in order to vote on the interim offer. Strike action is now set to take place on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. READ MORE: Plans published for revamp of Glasgow's Buchanan Galleries after demolition axed Workers say they believe the Subway system is "struggling" to operate due to "chronic understaffing", while staff are "routinely working up to 10 hours beyond contracted hours" to keep the system running. The union said its members were often called in to work shifts at short notice, "leading to significant work-life pressures". Commenting, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Unite's Glasgow subway members are fed up with SPT's half measures and failure to deliver decent working conditions. 'It has had every opportunity to sort out understaffing, shift pay and working hours. The workers have rightly said enough is enough because the subway is running on empty. SPT know what it needs to do to resolve the dispute but has entirely failed to act. ' READ MORE: 'Unexplained' death as man's body found inside caravan in Dundee Andrew Brown, Unite industrial officer, said: 'The offer tabled by SPT was overwhelmingly rejected by our members. 'Strike action is now set to take place over a series of days bringing the subway to a stop. SPT has only itself to blame for failing to come up with any workable solution to this dispute which stretches back to last year." SPT has been contacted for comment.
