Mossmorran: summit call to pause closure to find buyer and support 400 workers
A call has been made to pause the closure of Fife Ethylene Plant to give politicians and unions more time to try to find a buyer - and get support in place for workers who face losing their jobs.
It came at the first of two summits being staged this week as Scottish and UK Government Ministers come to Fife on the back of the shock announcement by ExxonMobil that it will shut Mossmorran in February, affecting up to 400 workers.
On Monday, Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Scotland was at Fife Council’s headquarters in Glenrothe for talks with councillors, business leaders and union leaders. He was joined by Ivan McKee MSP, Minister for Public Finance.
On Tuesday, Kate Forbes MSP, Deputy First Minister, will tour the plant. which opened in 1985 and has been a major employer for four decades. She will be joined by Adrian Gillespie, Scottish Enterprise’s chief executive. She will then host a summit for workers to which ExxonMobil, unions GMB and Unite, Scottish Enterprise, the UK Government, Fife Council, Fife College, the Scottish National Investment Bank and local MSPs have all been invited.
The meetings and talks come as politicians rally to offer support for the workers, and look for alternatives to save the jobs.
At Fife House, discussions focused on how best to support affected workers and mitigate the impact of the closure on contractors, the supply chain, local communities and the wider Fife economy.
Mr Alexander also said the first aim was to try to find a buyer, and he pledged the UK Government was ready to broker any connection between a saviour and ExxonMobil. He also described the plant owner’s treatment of its staff and contractors as “profoundly disappointed” - saying they “deserved significantly better.”
Councillor David Ross, leader of Fife Council, called for the closure to be paused “to ensure that we can all do the very best for all those involved.” He said: “I was deeply disappointed by ExxonMobil’s decision to close the Mossmorran plant, putting the jobs of around 180 staff, 250 contractors, and many more in the supply chain and local economy at risk. It's a devastating blow to the dedicated workforce, their families, and the wider communities who have supported this facility for decades.
“We are already working with the appropriate agencies to engage with employees at the plant, but I think it is essential that we start to look very quickly at the wider impact on the local economy and supply chain. I was particularly keen to get a perspective from some of our larger Fife businesses and the trade unions to get their insight into the likely opportunities for redeployment, training and retraining requirements and their assessment of pressures on the supply chain.
“I hope that ExxonMobil will engage fully with these efforts as we move forward.”
Mr Alexander said the summit was “a constructive and purposeful discussion” and “provided the ‘‘Team Scotland’ approach the workforce deserve.” He also raised with the UK Government’s Office for Investment his goal that it would help broker any possible buyer of the Mossmorran facility.
Mr Alexander added: “The Mossmorran plant and its operation was, rightly, the focus of our discussion at this time. But I also welcome Babcock’s willingness to explore whether, in time and if required, they could employ some of the skilled workers from Mossmorran."
Support also came from Scottish Government Minister, Mr McKee.
He said: "We are working with the UK Government and Fife Council to achieve a positive outcome for workers and will do what we can to ensure the focus remains on them and the wider community affected by the closure at Mossmorran.”
On Tuesday, the spotlight will fall on Ms Forbes’ visit to the plant which manufactures the base material for plastics.
She said: “Our immediate priority is to explore way to retain employment at the site and support the workforce through this period of uncertainty.
“I look forward to visiting the site and engaging with workforce representatives and the company. Adrian Gillespie, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, will join me, so that we can move at pace to explore new investment opportunities.” She added: “Last week, I informed the Scottish Parliament that I would convene a task force to consider new opportunities for the Mossmorran site and to prioritise the workforce. Since then I have engaged extensively with the unions and Scottish Enterprise. I will announce further information about the taskforce imminently.
“In the meantime, this summit will bring together all the key stakeholders and I am keen that we consider every possible option to support the workforce at this distressing time.”
She added: “The Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise are committed to doing all we can to support the people impacted by this and to ensure we do not lose the vital skills base of the Mossmorran workforce in Fife.”
Trade union leaders are also fighting to protect the plant - and want political backing.
Robert Deavy, GMB Scotland senior organiser, said: Everyone involved in these discussions must share our commitment and determination to protect these workers’ jobs and safeguard their communities in every way possible.
“Scotland cannot afford to lose the jobs, skills and industrial capability of Mossmorran and these talks must recognise that and then quickly deliver effective action.”
Cliff Bowen, of Unite, said: “Both Governments now must take decisive action to support the workforce that mitigate, and hopefully prevent, the consequences of this decision. Unite members need the support of all parties to secure their future.”
Defence firm Babcock and shipbuilder Navantia are both understood to be willing to recruit employees from the ethylene plant.