Industrial action at Lerwick Port set to hit oil and gas operations

Oil and gas operations in Shetland are expected to be “severely impacted” with workers at the islands’ main port poised to restart industrial action.

Unite the union confirmed yesterday that its members employed by Lerwick Port Authority will begin an overtime ban later this month following a breakdown in negotiations over pay, terms and conditions.

Around a dozen key workers at the harbour are involved in the dispute. From just after midnight on May 25, a continuous ban on overtime will kick in at the Shetland port.

Unite says the action will have a “severe impact” on cruise liners and oil and gas vessels, with “significant hours of overtime” needed to ensure the effective running of operations.

Union members are demanding that they are paid the same rate as workers receive at other UK ports.

They are also challenging a number of “detrimental changes” to basic pay, overtime, standby and call-out payments, as well as pension contributions.

It is claimed the changes will further cut the incomes for workers, who already rely on overtime payments for 40p in every pound they take home.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s members at Lerwick Port Authority are simply demanding that they are paid the rate for the job.

“This is a multi-millionpound business so it has no business paying Lerwick workers less than port workers get around the UK. Unite is challenging this all the way and our members have the full backing of their union in the fight to secure better jobs, pay and conditions.”

Lerwick workers are set to begin an overtime ban.