Unions accept revised offshore workers’ deal

Offshore workers have accepted a revised contract offer, following a prolonged dispute over pay and conditions in the North Sea.

Workers were voting on a third pay offer from the Offshore Contractors’ Association (OCA), which represents nine employers. The employees turned down a 2% pay rise earlier this year, having already rejected an offer at the end of 2016.

Trade unions had been holding out for better terms, including a wage increase, along with improved sick pay and paid travel time for their members.

Unions then held a series of industrial action ballots, but they did not gain enough support for a strike.

The OCA subsequently proposed a 2% pay increase and a £450 lump sum for certain employees.

Last month, the Unite, RMT and GMB trade unions recommended that their members accept the revised offer.

The OCA, whose members include Amec Foster Wheeler, Petrofac and Wood Group PSN, welcomed the decision to vote in favour of the new deal.

Its chief executive Paul Atkinson said: “We are really pleased that members of all three trade unions have chosen to endorse our proposal in a consultative ballot.

“We have worked extremely hard with union officials to reach a shared settlement that we all believe to be in the best interests of everyone involved.”

Unite regional officer Tommy Campbell said: “The three unions’ members have reluctantly accepted the offer by a narrow margin”