News / Gas plant strike called off
A STRIKE that threatened to cripple construction work at the £800 million gas plant being built for French oil giant Total in Shetland has been called off.
Around 800 members of the Unite and GMB trade unions had originally planned two 24 hour walk outs in late January in a dispute about shared accommodation and travel time.
The strikes were postponed at the last minute to ensure the entire workforce could take part in a ballot on an offer of up to £5,500 compensation by chief site contractor Petrofac.
On Monday afternoon the unions announced that a “significant majority” had voted to accept the company’s offer, though the final result appears to be quite close.
Industrial action at the site near Sullom Voe had been brewing for months as workers complained about sharing rooms in the 848 bed accommodation block at nearby Sella Ness.
They were also unhappy at the extra two hours travelling to and from the site from accommodation barges anchored in Lerwick harbour for the duration of the massive building project.
After protracted negotiations Petrofac made what they described as “a generous offer” that union leaders recommended their members accept.
The company also chartered the cruise liner Ocean Endeavour to provide a further 193 beds for workers who are working long shifts of fourteen days on and seven days off.
However around 350 workers unanimously rejected the offer at a mass meeting in early January.
It was only the day before the first day of action was due to take place on 24 January that the workforce backtracked and called for a ballot of the rest of the workforce.
On Monday Unite regional industrial organiser John Taylor said the ballot had been about 60:40 in favour of calling off the strike.
“A significant majority have voted in favour of accepting the company’s offer,” he said.
“I am glad the dispute is over and that people don’t have to lose money. We will be signing an agreement with the company in the next couple of days.”
A Petrofac spokesman said: “We are pleased with this decision.
“We didn’t always necessarily see the grounds for complaint – but we take the welfare of our staff very seriously and in the spirit of compromise, we made what we felt was a generous offer that will mean some workers being eligible for up to an additional £5,500.
“We are now fully focused on delivering the project for our customer.”
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