Well, Gordon Brown has destroyed many, many pension funds already, not to mention Equitable Life, severly impacting people's lives 'down South'. Let's just see if he treats his fellow Scots any differently to the English on this occasion.

R.M., London, England

Oh dear here we go again. I think it's high time people seriously look at their energy consumption including petrol to find ways of not using it. Having just moved to Chicago we decided not to buy a car, it's not been too bad as we can rent if we are desperate and use ZipCar for hourly rentals for local travel.

We can't keep burning this stuff. Also at $115 a barrel if we don't do something now the price will continue to rise. day after day. And it will be our own fault.

Anthony Stewart, Chicago, ILLINOIS

If the workers at the refinery are prepared to plunge Scotland and northern England into the Stone Age for a few weeks, then maybe it's high time the Government used the Civil Contingencies Act to freeze their bank accounts so they can't eat.

Michael Petek, Brighton, UK

As usual, the workers are suffering the loss of their pensions in a penny-pinching exercise while the huge profits are still rolling in. But there's a bigger picture here - this could be a dry run for the coming fuel shortages in the future. It is something we are all going to have to get used to. Apart from the inconvenience to ordinary people, it will be interesting to see what will be the wider effects will be in Scotland and the North and what contingencies the government will put in place. Perhaps Gordon Brown should spend less time posturing on the world stage and more time dealing with the problems at home.

Colin, Oxford,

sorry tough, because they now have to pay into into a pension scheme which before the company was sold was free.
they have always been paid premium wages now its just a little bit worse off

welcome to the real world guys

Richard Dow, Stenhousemuir,

The SNP seem to be a bit quiet on this one. How do they propose dealing with this massive stategic risk to the viability of an independent Scotland? An English bail-out???

The more I see of who would pull the strings post independence the more I'm betting this would be a backward, corruption-ridden socialist hellhole & failed state within 10 years.

Edward, Edinburgh, UK

How on Earth could one firm have been allowed to develop such a monopolistic stranglehold on a vital strategic resource?

This morning, I heard an apologist for the company claim that the changes which have prompted the strike are necessary "In order to remain competitive in the global economy". Since no evidence was given for any overseas sales from this refinery, I cannot see how this argument holds any water. Profiteering is the word for this behaviour.

Bill Q, Derby,

If Brown can produce £50bn to prop up the poor old banks so they can make even more money out of mortgages, perhaps he could produce another £50bn to prop up the final salary and other pensions he has been raiding over the last decade, condeming people to work as long as possible to avoid poverty in retirement.

Mike, Whitby, North Yorkshire

Did you read where the company are making 3 million pounds a day. But can,t or wo,nt pay 1.3 million a year for a pension fund. To me the refinery workers have a right to strike to protect their pensions. Yes i know it will cause shortages at the pumps But the refinery workers have the right to strike over a legitimate greivance. Still they have time to talk to one another, so lets hope the strike can be averted.

Bill, Hartlepool, England

We live in the 21st century, this Neanderthal behaviour of holding the country to ransom reeks of the old days. The government should very quickly get every one around the table and bang heads together. If the unions have a genuine grievance, then sort it out, if the company is acting within their right, then slap a legal order on the union banning a strike which could have a major impact on the economy and the liveliehood of millions. Anything else is collective Neanderthal behaviour. Sorry, we have too much at stake to be going on playing silly games, on both sides. Sort it out now for the sake of the workers and the country, neither of whom wants this.

John, Glasgow, UK

But the reason for the closure of the final salary pension scheme? Gordon (the Destroyer) Brown. It was he who waved aside the advice of his own department and removed the tax concessions for pension funds. The oil company is merely doing what it must to remain solvent.

He has condemned future millions to a poverty stricken old age.

Richard Crompton, Baden, Switzerland

I wish they'd strike for the greater good - petrol prices.
Now would be a good time for Stanlow to down tools

Phill, The Wirral,

Just in time for the local elections. Superb stuff. Spring of discontent anyone?

Tme for a change.

Paul, Nottingham, UK

Who in government was asleep at the wheel and allowed critical national infrastructure to be acquired by a highly-leveraged, secretive whiz-kid?

Colin Soames, London,

Here we go again. And how much is fuel going to rise this time. You can bet your bottom dollar that the government will do nothing to help because as fuel prices rise so do the governments cut from fuel duty and vat. I bet Gordon Brown is rubbing his hands over this one. Only the less well off will suffer, whether from the rise in fuel prices or the rise in food costs which will inevitably follow.
Goodbye Britain, I'm off ................................

Charlie, London,

Just like the 1970's allo ver again. Oh the nostalgia!

Austin Tassletine, South West, UK

The panic starts here - and great timing as well. How is our esteemed Prime Minister going to cope with this one? And in his own back yard as well!

Paul, Coventry,

My God in this day and age it is time to make operations like Grangemouth Essential services if necessary under the umbrella of National Security, You cannot let a handful of people dictate to a Nation its absolute Anarchy, The Military should be sent in there immediately, All senior operators on that site should have been made to sign non disruption clauses upon taking up employment, Where is Mrs Thatcher when we need her? , A mediator should be appointed and both sides ordered into Binding Arbitration right now. But there should be no disruption to fuel supply, To shut down a refinery of this magnitude in the UK is intolerable

Peter K, Vancouver BC., Canada

I would be furious too if my pension was slashed. I bet you the director's pensions will not be slashed though, only the poor workers.

Babis Gakis, Braintree, United Kingdom