Unite Scotland can confirm that talks to prevent industrial action at Sullom Voe Terminal have ended with no movement on the part of Shetland Islands Council (SIC) to resolve the dispute.

Around 40 towage workers employed by SIC are set to begin an overtime ban on 5 July which will continue over a seven-week period (see notes to editors). Unite has confirmed that if no progress takes place in the coming weeks, then strike action remains a possibility which would represent a major escalation in the dispute. The overtime ban will ‘hugely disrupt’ the multi-million pound contract to bring oil tankers on to the shore for oil processing and also on production for the Brent and Ninian fields.

In April, Unite announced that towage workers on a return of 86.5 per cent voted by 87.1 per cent to take industrial action. The dispute revolves around workers being denied a ‘service award’ after their transfer to SIC in 2006. The towage workers have been told by SIC that they will not receive the long service award if they fulfil 25 years’ service, which is the equivalent of one month’s salary like other council workers. Instead, the workers will continue to receive a flat rate of £250.

John Clark, Unite industrial officer, said: “Unite has continually been thwarted by the intransigence of the Shetland Islands Council over the long service award. The towage workers are asking for equal treatment which for 15 years has been denied to them since their transfer. This situation is completely unacceptable and unjust. Unless the SIC accepts liability, then industrial action will commence on the 5 July initially for seven weeks.

“We also have a mandate to take strike action which will be an inevitable course if the SIC doesn’t see sense. The overtime ban will hugely disrupt oil processing and production having a serious impact on a multi-million pound contract.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

  • Unite Scotland is the country’s biggest and most diverse trade union with around 150,000 members. The union is led in Scotland by Pat Rafferty.

Unite members will take part in discontinuous industrial action consisting of strike action/a ban on Contractual Overtime for all 4th Duty Tug working as follows:

  • Crews 1 & 2 commencing at 09:00 hours on 5 July 2021 and continuing each day up to 12 July 2021 when the action will conclude at 08:59 hours
  • Crews 2 & 3 commencing at 09:00 hours on 12 July 2021 and continuing each day up to 19 July 2021 when the action will conclude at 08:59 hours
  • Crews 1 & 3 commencing at 09:00 hours on 19 July 2021 and continuing each day up to 26 July 2021 when the action will conclude at 08:59 hours
  • Crews 1 & 2 commencing at 09:00 hours on 26 July 2021 and continuing each day up to 2 August 2021 when the action will conclude at 08:59 hours
  • Crews 2 & 3 commencing at 09:00 hours on 2 August 2021 and continuing each day up to 9 August 2021 when the action will conclude at 08:59 hours
  • Crews 1 & 3 commencing at 09:00 hours on 9 August 2021 and continuing each day up to 16 August 2021 when the action will conclude at 08:59 hours
  • Crews 1 & 2 commencing at 09:00 hours on 16 August 2021 and continuing each day up to 23 August 2021 when the action will conclude at 08:59 hours