Offshore Oil and Gas Workers Balloted on North Sea Strike Action

GMB members working under the Offshore Contractors Association (OCA) agreement have called for a 4 per cent increase in basic pay and allowances.

Workers are being balloted on whether they would support industrial strike action and action short of strike action in November.Members have already rejected two OCA offers and the ballot comes after months of negotiations.

Members of the Unite union are already being balloted, with its decision due on 2 November.

GMB national officer Ross Murdoch said: “It is unfortunate that matters have come to this.

“However our members have more than played their part in ensuring OCA employers achieve very healthy profits – they fully deserve what is effectively a cost of living increase.”

He added: “The door is still open for OCA employers to return to the bargaining table with an improved offer to avert what could potentially be costly disruption in terms of both cost and reputation.”

The GMB ballot opened today and will close on 5 November, with industrial action taking place later in November if there is a vote in favour.

Source: www.cityam.com