Unions to ballot members over new Wood Group proposal
They've been involved in a long running dispute over cuts to pay
Unions are to ballot Wood Group workers over a fresh proposal to pay and allowance cuts.
They've been involved in a long running dispute over the changes, which UNITE and RMT officers claim would see a third of worker's pay being taken away from them.
They're unhappy that staff are being asked to work longer hours for less pay.
Wood Group have continuously denied that the cuts would come to 30% of a worker's pay packet.
They say the changes to terms and conditions are to cope with the current oil downturn and would affect around a third of its staff.
It's an argument that has seen the first North Sea strikes in almost 30 years.
The two parties had been at deadlock, but agreed to get back round the table for fresh talks.
A Wood Group spokesperson said: “Following a series of in-depth discussions, Wood Group representatives, officials from the Unite and RMT unions and shop stewards have now drawn up a mutually agreeable proposal which we consider to be in the best interests of all parties.
"The new proposal recognises the skills, flexibility and capabilities of the incumbent offshore workforce, the challenges facing the industry and demonstrates collective leadership in shaping the future of the North Sea.
"We are currently in contact with all our offshore workers who are involved, to set out the terms of the new proposal, together with what it means to each individual’s terms and conditions. The Unite and RMT unions will begin balloting their members next week.”
Unite regional officer John Boland said: “Throughout this dispute, our members have remained united and strong in defence of their pay and conditions, and we have always made clear that we were open to meaningful negotiations. “The proposal we are putting to members will still involve a large degree of sacrifice on their part. Wood Group has made concessions on key areas of competency and flexibility payments that will reduce the impact of the cuts they originally put forward. “As ever, we will guided by our members, but Unite and the offshore shop stewards believe that this proposal is the best that can be achieved in the current circumstances.”