Updated: Coryton staff demonstrate outside refinery (From Thurrock Gazette)
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Coryton staff demonstrate outside refinery
5:50pm Monday 11th June 2012 in News By Gina Marden
Coryton staff demonstrate outside refinery
Campaigners trying to save jobs at Coryton oil refinery have staged a protest amid warnings that its closure could see more than £100 million drained from the economy.
More than 100 people demonstrated outside the Coryton refinery in Stanford-le-Hope, where almost 1,000 workers face losing their jobs.
Unite called on ministers to follow the example of the French government and give state aid to keep Coryton running until a buyer can be found.
Thurrock council has commissioned an economic impact assessment on the closure or change of use of the site, which found it would cost £30 million in wages, £26 million in contractor costs, £6 million in locally sourced materials, £40 million spent on chemicals and utilities, and £5 million in business rates.
Unite assistant general secretary Tony Burke said: "The economic impact and human cost of Coryton's closure will be massive. The Government cannot continue to sit on its hands and allow livelihoods to be destroyed.
"Over £100 million could be drained from the local and national economy, as well as the UK's refining capacity being undermined. Today's protest shows that the workers, who have kept the site running, feel let down and angry by the Government's failure to intervene."
Local Labour MEP Richard Howitt said: "The Government accepts that the Thames Gateway is nationally important for economic regeneration, so must not stand by while one of its most important businesses in one of the most crucial areas goes under.
"Government representatives repeatedly told us that best efforts were being made to find a new buyer, but today's protest shows that today no one believes they were telling the truth."
Comments(12)
quiksilver100
says...
12:02pm Mon 11 Jun 12
The Cater Wood Creeper
says...
12:42pm Mon 11 Jun 12
no use protesting against a bust company?
didn't do the ex Visteon workers any harm, they all secured a very nice payout for siting outside the old radiator plant for a few weeks instead of just accepting the 'we've gone into administration so there's no money for you' story they were given by Stumpy and his mates
quiksilver100
says...
1:11pm Mon 11 Jun 12
The Cater Wood Creeper wrote:Was that not to do with Ford honouring their pensions?
no use protesting against a bust company?didn't do the ex Visteon workers any harm, they all secured a very nice payout for siting outside the old radiator plant for a few weeks instead of just accepting the 'we've gone into administration so there's no money for you' story they were given by Stumpy and his mates
The Cater Wood Creeper
says...
1:21pm Mon 11 Jun 12
quiksilver100 wrote:it was more to do withthem honouring their promise of 'mirror term for Ford Workers' and coming up with a redundancy package that would have been dished out if they were still in charge of the plant. The pensions issue is still being fought by VPAG (Visteon Pensioners Action Group)
The Cater Wood Creeper wrote:Was that not to do with Ford honouring their pensions?no use protesting against a bust company?didn't do the ex Visteon workers any harm, they all secured a very nice payout for siting outside the old radiator plant for a few weeks instead of just accepting the 'we've gone into administration so there's no money for you' story they were given by Stumpy and his mates
bumble 46
says...
8:22pm Mon 11 Jun 12
so i am afraid you are not the first or last to have to endure this situation it is something that unfortunately has happened before and will happen again.
streetboy75
says...
10:36pm Mon 11 Jun 12
sorry but this is just making a loss daily close it now try paying off staff and let them start looking for jobs, striking outside says they dont need the money anyway and cant see that helping any potential buyer with staff walking out on top of all the losses.
Trainman
says...
12:56am Tue 12 Jun 12
????????????????????
???
DO Management pay MORE for their groceries, because they are on a Far more superior salary compared to REAL workers?
Chris Flunk
says...
1:22am Tue 12 Jun 12
Trainman wrote:Perhaps if you were paid more it would provide for the badly needed repairs to your keyboard. I'd be happy to chip in to fix those sticking question mark and shift keys.
WHY does ANY management, of ANY company actually NEED such a high salary for doing SFA, while the TRUE workers have to live on a mere Pittance of a wage????????????????
????????????????????
???
DO Management pay MORE for their groceries, because they are on a Far more superior salary compared to REAL workers?
ebagumtrebor
says...
8:12am Tue 12 Jun 12
redundantworker
says...
5:06pm Wed 13 Jun 12
ebagumtrebor wrote:because you need loads of money .it costs a fortune to run but also can make a fortune.
If it's a profitable going concern, instead of striking or protesting, why don't the management and the workforce offer to buy it. I'm sure they could do a deal with the administrators. If it's that profitable, surely banks would see this as an opportunity to invest in a successful business. I note that Comrade Kent is ranting about the Tories bailing out their banker friends. I think he's actually forgotten who bailed out the banks.
last month it made 40million profit .but if it dont run you can lose 1million per day. its the greedy bankers that pulled the plug
ebagumtrebor
says...
8:04am Thu 14 Jun 12
r6keith says...
8:51am Mon 11 Jun 12