Ferry crews balloted

INTER island ferry users could be faced with disruptions should a dispute between Shetland Islands Council and senior crew not be resolved next week.

Mates on the council run ferries have been balloted over possible industrial action.

They are complaining that their salary grade had dropped during the single status negotiations.

The trade union Unite has been negotiating with SIC managers for the last year without finding a solution to the dispute.

The result of the ballot should be known late on Monday, and Unite’s regional organiser John Taylor will be back in the isles for more talks the following day.

The union said that they would initially be looking at sporadic industrial action such as work to rule, mates refusing to act as skipper or short stoppages.