Deadline set

Offshore trade unions have set a deadline of Friday, June 19 for employers in the Caterers Offshore Trade Association (COTA) agreement to return to negotiations over a pay deal for 2015/16.

 
COTA employers informed unions in April that commercial pressures imposed by major client companies in the UK oil and gas industry meant that the second year of a two year pay deal, worth around 2 per cent, would not be honoured.

 
The COTA agreement sets out the terms and conditions of over 3,000 catering and auxiliary staff working across six employers in the UK offshore industry – Aramak, Entier, ESS, FOSS & ESG, Sodexho and Trinity International Services.

 
“The joint trade unions in the COTA agreement notified employers late yesterday that we will now begin preparations for an industrial action ballot of our members,” said Unite Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty.

 
“After withdrawing the second year increase in April, COTA employers have refused to enter into meaningful discussion over reversing this decision and it is an imposition we are simply not prepared to accept.

 
“The industry has endured a difficult start to 2015 but with oil prices gradually increasing and with a £1.3 billion tax cut for the industry delivered, it’s time for the industry to loosen the squeeze on its hard-working employees,” he added.

 
“Industrial action is not inevitable and by returning to negotiation ahead of the deadline we are giving COTA employers the opportunity to do the right thing.”