Gas plant industrial dispute resolved

The long-running spat between workers and management at the £800 million gas plant development at Sullom Voe has finally come to an end.

Union members have voted in favour of accepting an offer to resolve the dispute at the Petrofac site over shared accommodation and travel allowances.

Workers belonging to GMB and Unite last month rejected the offer of up to £5,500.

They scheduled a series of 24 hour strikes, despite the offer being recommended by shop stewards and union leaders.

Staff had been seeking £50 a day allowances to compensate for having to share rooms – despite knowing they would have to do so when signing up to the job.

Workers staying in the Lerwick barges also wanted compensation for travelling long distances to and from work.

However, the workers showed signs of warming to the £15 a day offer on the eve of the first walk-outs.

Yesterday afternoon the majority of members voted in favour of accepting the deal.

Petrofac have welcomed the decision.

“We are pleased with this decision. Strike action would have been in no-one’s interests.

“We didn’t always necessarily agree with the grounds for complaint – but we take the welfare of our staff very seriously and in the spirit of compromise we made what we felt was a generous offer that will mean some workers being eligible for up to an additional £5,500.

“We are now fully focused on delivering the project for our customer.”