‘We won’t be treated unfairly’

Members of Unite, Scotland’s biggest offshore union have voted to end an industrial dispute that led to the first North Sea strike in a generation.

In July, members of the Unite union working on Shell platforms across the North Sea started strike action after rejecting proposed cuts by their employer, the oil facilities company Wood Group.

The workers faced losing up to 30 per cent in pay and allowances.

A proposal to end the dispute was put to members on 12 September, and today (September 22) the union announced that they had been accepted by 105 votes to 82.

“Our negotiations with Wood Group allowed us to reduce the levels of cuts being proposed to our members’ wages and terms and conditions,”  said Unite regional officer John Boland.

“We were able to secure improvements to competency payments and the introduction of a flexibility payment. Threats to life insurance, health care and sick pay have been removed.

“We have a commitment to greater work security for ad-hoc workers, and they now have greater opportunities to progress into permanent posts,” he added.

“As ever, our members have shown themselves willing to be open to meaningful negotiations and are not blind to the challenges facing the offshore sector in these difficult times – but they have also shown they will not be treated unfairly.

“I would like to pay tribute to all the stewards and members who stayed united, strong and determined during this dispute. They can be proud of the way they stood by each other in this difficult time.”