| Leif Sande who represents 60,000 oil, gas and industry workers in Norway, including in INEOS Norway, is also head of the energy section of the global trade union IndustriAll, with 9 million members in the energy sector, oppose strongly to reports of harassment of elected representatives in INEOS-owned businesses in the UK. INEOS is a leading petrochemical company with production plants in 11 countries and 15,000 employees, including 320 in Norway. INEOS' activity in Norway is located to Grenland in Telemark and includes three petrochemical companies: INEOS Bamble AS , INEOS Norway AS and AS Noretyl. INEOS in Norway has a total annual turnover of approximately 10 billion NOK. A global rebellion - We stand jointly behind the initiative of the British trade union Unite, says Leif Sande. Unite represents 1.5 million members in the UK. - This is a protest from all trade unions representing workers of INEOS around the world. We express our serious concern over what is happening in INEOS UK. In particular, we are concerned to hear reports from Unite of the harassment of shop steward Stephen Deans at the INEOS owned oil refinery in Grangemouth and the subsequent threats to cut jobs, salaries and pensions for UK employees, says Sande. Stop the threats and start negotiations Trade unions in INEOS around the world unanimous demand that INEOS immediately: - puts an end to the intrusive and accusatory investigations and threats of dismissal against the shop steward Stephen Deans and - agrees to a reasonable timetable for negotiations with Unite for the future of Grangemouth. - We want the management of INEOS to clearly understand that we stand side by side in solidarity with our British colleagues, says Leif Sande. If more information needed, contact: Simon Cox Unite - OLRU - External Relations +44(0)207 611 2508 |