Oceaneering ballot

THE union Unite has confirmed that around 90 workers will be balloted on strike action in an escalating pay dispute with the Port of Rosythbased company Oceaneering.

Unite says the company made a six per cent pay offer plus a oneoff payment, which has been overwhelmingly rejected by the workers.

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s members at Oceaneering are highly skilled workers providing specialist products for the obscenely lucrative offshore sector. They are rightly demanding to have their pay boosted to help meet the cost-of-living crisis.

“The Rosyth-based workers will have Unite’s full support in the fight for better jobs, pay and conditions at Oceaneering.”

Unite says the latest pay offer rejection follows the workers having received just a one per cent increase in 2022.

Bob MacGregor, Unite industrial officer, added: “There are around 90 workers who suffered a massive real terms pay cut last year. The offer on the table from Oceaneering doesn’t get anywhere close to addressing this situation along with the ongoing cost of living crisis.

“The company is also reporting that it is coming back into profit and our members are looking for a fair pay offer to reflect their skilled work.”

Oceaneering International Services Limited provides engineering services and products primarily to the offshore oil and gas industry.

Unite’s members are specialist process workers who manufacture umbilical cables to support various offshore oil and gas installations.

The ballot will run until November 8.