Gas plant dispute settled

Today’s dispute at the Shetland Gas Plant has been resolved after about 1,000 workers decided to down tools this morning.

The Shetland Times understands the unofficial dispute which was over travelling money, was settled shortly before 4pm.

Petrofac offered the workers 2.5 hours pay that they had wanted for a previous time they stopped working, and asked them to put their complaint about travel allowance for Shetland-based workers through the proper complaint channels.

This was accepted but workers will not be paid for the time they downed tools today – which means they lose seven hours pay overall.

Workers regarded as “resident” by Petrofac are not eligible for a £15 a day bonus paid to the “travelling” workforce, who are men who stay in barges and ships in Lerwick.

The travelling bonus was awarded following a dispute at the end of last year which also focussed on workers having to share cabins in the floating accommodation.

A Petrofac spokesman, said: “We are pleased to have been able to resolve this issue. However we have made it very clear that unauthorised action like this is unacceptable; that in future, any issues should be addressed through the proper channels; and that workers will not be paid for the time spent away from work today.”