LONDON, April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The Grangemouth oil workers have taken out a series of adverts in the Scottish media today (Monday 28th April), to explain to the people of Scotland the reasons for their strike and to ask for their understanding and support.

Seven adverts have been placed in newspapers covering the whole of Scotland on behalf of the1,200 Grangemouth workers. They express regret for any potential inconvenience caused to the general public but explain that the workers have been left with no choice but to strike to defend their pensions.

In the advert the Unite members from the Grangemouth plant say that their pensions are an important part of their wages and that the changes Ineos are trying to force through, despite the fact their scheme is well-funded and affordable, will have a serious impact on their and their families' futures. Ineos, the plant's owner, is a multi million pound profit making company.

Unite National Officer, Phil McNulty said: "A lot of untruths have been peddled about the reasons for this strike. Our members have been accused of being greedy and irresponsible but this strike is not about getting more money from their employer or an attack on the ordinary people of Scotland. The Grangemouth workers are having to strike to defend their existing pension scheme which, despite the fact it is well-funded and in profit, their hugely rich employer, Ineos, wants to close it.

"We wanted to explain directly to the people of Scotland that our members actions are not taken lightly and are intended to get Ineos to stop its' attack on their pensions and is not in any way directed at them.

"Our members have been shown huge understanding and support from their compatriots thus far and we hope that we can rely on that continuing.

"Unite is proud to be representing its' members at the Grangemouth plant."

The adverts appear today in the Daily Record, the Scottish Metro, the Scotsman, the Edinburgh Evening News, the Aberdeen Press and Journal, the Dundee Courier and the Evening Telegraph.

Yesterday hundreds of people from Grangemouth joined workers at a rally at the refinery to show their support for the strike. They were joined by local MP, Michael Connarty and MSP Cathy Peattie.

Nearly 60 MPs have signed up to an EDM laid by Grangemouth MP, Michael Connarty MP, adding their support for the Grangemouth workers and expressing their concern at the aggressive tactics employed by Ineos' management.

Note to Editors

You can read more background on the Ineos Grangemouth dispute at: http://www.unitetheunion.com/ineos and view the advert appearing in Scottish press today at: http://www.amicustheunion.org/pdf/A5%20Ineos%20flyer%20April%2008%20fina...

For further information please contact Catherine Bithell in the Unite press office +44-(0)20-7-420-8909 or +44-(0)7958-473-224