Workers threaten strike over pensions

Workers at a leading chemical company are threatening to take industrial action because of proposed changes to their pension scheme.

Amicus union said it was seeking talks with Ineos, which has taken over divisions of the chemical giant ICI, in a bid to prevent the company cutting benefits and increasing contributions by an average of 3%.

Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Amicus, said: "The workers are being hit by a double whammy, forced to take a pay cut while they are at work and a cut in income in retirement. We will not stand for it."

Ineos employs thousands of workers across the country and owns the former ex-ICI plant in Runcorn, Cheshire.