Offshore workers strike ballot goes ahead

A strike ballot will go ahead after a meeting to resolve a dispute for changes in working terms for offshore workers has failed. GMB and Unite union officials held the talks […]

A strike ballot will go ahead after a meeting to resolve a dispute for changes in working terms for offshore workers has failed.

GMB and Unite union officials held the talks yesterday when it was hoped the disagreement would be resolved.

The dispute is over changes to working conditions for staff covered by the Offshore Contractors Agreement (OCA) in UK waters.

GMB National Officer David Hulse said progress was made yesterday but not enough to go back to members with proposals to resolve the dispute.

He added: “We will now have to proceed with organising an official ballot for industrial action as the members asked us to do in a consultative ballot earlier this year.

“We remain available for talks should the employers want to pull back from going ahead with the unilateral changes to working practices that has provoked this dispute.”

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