First Minister John Swinney has been accused of causing confusion after appearing to guarantee job interviews for workers at the Mossmorran ethylene plant, similar to those offered to redundant Grangemouth refinery staff. During First Minister's Questions, Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer asked if the £25 million Grangemouth Just Transition Fund's interview guarantee would be extended to over 300 Mossmorran workers at risk of redundancy. Mr Swinney replied: 'Yes, I am happy to confirm that...'
However, the Scottish Government later clarified that Mr Swinney was referring to the existing Grangemouth agreement, not a new guarantee for Mossmorran. A spokesperson stated: 'While no guaranteed interview scheme currently exists along the lines offered to workers at Grangemouth, the First Minister was happy to confirm that, in the event of funding being made available to the Mossmorran site, the same conditionality would apply.'
Mr Greer expressed disappointment, writing on social media: 'I specifically asked if the Scottish Government would replicate the Grangemouth fund’s requirement of guaranteed job interviews for laid off workers at Mossmorran. Disappointed that the First Minister apparently meant to say no when he quite clearly said yes.'
Global energy giant ExxonMobil announced last week that it will close the Fife ethylene plant, expected to shut in February. The company said 179 directly-employed jobs and 250 contractor roles are at risk, with 50 staff possibly transferring to the Fawley complex in Hampshire. Mr Greer accused the Scottish Government of having 'no plan' to help workers.
Mr Swinney said he regrets the job losses and that ministers are 'working assiduously' to deliver a future for workers. He noted the Scottish Government had just a week's notice of the closure, while the UK Government had months, and criticised what he called 'one rule for the rest of the United Kingdom and one rule to Scotland when it comes to industrial closures under a Labour Government in London.'
