Business / Oil terminal strike suspended following improved offer
TRADE union Unite has suspended strike action at Sullom Voe Terminal to allow its members to be balloted on an improved offer on terms and conditions from employer EnQuest.
Workers at the Shetland oil terminal had earlier this month voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action which was due commence next week.
Unite’s regional industrial officer John Boland said: “Unite’s membership at Sullom Voe have taken the decision to suspend industrial action, which was due to start next week, following a new offer from the company.
“There is a recommendation by the shop stewards to accept this offer but ultimately this is in the hands of the membership.
“However, our members are also acutely aware of the crisis facing the nation and they are prepared to suspend this action in order to play their part in this national effort.”
The union said it would start consulting its members from today (20 March) until 3 April, and all industrial action was suspended until after the ballot result.
The union also made the decision to postpone the action due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in the interests of workforce and those homes reliant on production from the plant.
EnQuest took over operation of the oil terminal from BP in December 2017.
An EnQuest spokesperson said: ‘EnQuest PLC can confirm that it has been advised by UNITE the Union that the Common Interest Group (CIG) shop stewards committee, Unite regional industrial officer and Unite national officer have recommended that members accept the company’s revised offer for employees at EnQuest’s Sullom Voe Terminal in Shetland.”
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