Following an overwhelming support for strike action by Wood Group’s offshore workers on Wednesday, Oil & Gas UK has said it was ‘extremely disappointed’.

A ballot of Wood Group employees working across Shell operated North Sea assets coordinated between two unions, RMT and Unite, returned with a massive majority supporting industrial action.

According to a joint statement by the two unions, the ballot results from both unions were well over the 50% turnout threshold and had huge majorities in support of industrial action in the form of strike and action short of strike.

In the case of Unite 99.1% voted in favour of industrial action, while 98.5% of RMT members voted to support industrial action.

Commenting on the result of the Unite union ballot to take industrial action, Deirdre Michie, chief executive of UK’s offshore oil and gas industry association, Oil & Gas UK, said: “Oil & Gas UK is extremely disappointed to hear the outcome of the ballot called by Unite announced today. Industrial action can only add to the industry’s challenges as it focuses on tackling the current downturn to restore North Sea competitiveness and sustain jobs in the industry in the longer term.”

Michie also added: “Everyone in the sector has a part to play. The industry is regularly meeting with the Offshore Coordinating Group to address the concerns of the workforce and outline the urgent actions required to make the industry globally competitive. The changes we are making now to improve the efficiency of the sector will be critical to shaping the future of the industry and safeguarding the jobs it currently supports.”