Also in the news / Pay deal, drugs dogs funding and more…
THE UNITE union says it has confirmed a “bumper pay deal” for some construction workers based at the Shetland Gas Plant.
Around a dozen Peterson workers will receive a basic increase backdated to January along with further uplifts aligned to offshore energy agreement rates which will increase the rates of pay from 25 to 38 per cent in July.
Overtime rates have also been enhanced along with securing a 12-hour shift payment for all crane operators, and paid lunch break for everyone at the gas plant.
The total pay package is an increase worth up to 41 per cent.
The pay award will be applied to crane operators, warehouse, general and site services assistants, and it was unanimously backed by the workers.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a fantastic win for our members, we have delivered a bumper pay deal. It shows yet again that Unite is winning for our members by putting money in their pockets.”
SHETLAND MSP Beatrice Wishart has highlighted the financial insecurity of the charity Dogs Against Drugs in parliament.
She stated that community-led charity, which started over 20 years ago, intercepted drugs with a street value of £554,000 in 2024.
Wishart also highlighted the £130,000 annual cost to run the charity and pointed out that it is in need of sustained core funding.
The topic was on the agenda at a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee this week.
It was discussing a petition previously lodged by The Shetland Times Ltd, which calls for more money recovered from the proceeds of crime to support community-based charities that train animals to assist in the detection of drugs, such as Dogs Against Drugs.
Wishart welcome the committee’s decision to keep the petition open and its commitment to write to the Scottish Government about longer-term options for funding.
ANOTHER planning application for glamping pods has been submitted to Shetland Islands Council.
The application is for two pods in the Gott area.
LOCAL MP Alistair Carmichael has welcomed the launch of a new marine energy taskforce.
The group, which met for the first time on Monday (16 June), is tasked with developing a roadmap to realise the UK’s marine energy potential.
Among the core members is Simon Forrest, CEO of Nova Innovation – the company which has tidal energy turbines in Bluemull Sound.
Carmichael said: “The Northern Isles have led the way in developing and expanding the use of tidal stream and wave energy. The more support we can secure to drive this forward, the better – for Orkney and Shetland and across the United Kingdom.”
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