Workers at a major gas plant in Shetland have voted for strike action over a pay dispute with energy service company Aker Solutions.
The Unite trade union has accused Aker of declining to offer workers a salary increase and failing to make holiday payments in some cases.
Unite regional officer John Boland said last week that the gas plant would not be able to function if Aker workers went on strike.
The plant, which officially opened in May 2016 and is operated by French oil major Total, processes gas from the huge Laggan and Tormore fields west of Shetland.
A total of 81 members were balloted and a turnout of 80.2% was achieved, comfortably satisfying the 50% threshold.
Unite said 92.3% voted for strike action, with 98.4% supporting action short of a strike.
Mr Boland said the ballot result showed that workers were “serious” and urged Aker to start “meaningful” negotiations.
Aker said it was committed to resolving the dispute.
Unite and Aker will meet on Monday in an effort to hammer out a deal.
Mr Boland said: “We have a meeting planned with Aker management on Monday afternoon, and we hope that they will now realise that our members are serious, and start meaningful negotiations with us.
“We have had seven months of stalling from Aker that has led to this situation, Aker now need to take our claims seriously or they will face industrial action at the Shetland Gas Plant.”
A spokesman for Aker said: “We were notified today that Unite the Union members employed by Aker Solutions at the Shetland Gas Plant have voted in favor of industrial action.
“Aker Solutions is committed to ensuring a positive dialogue and will meet with Unite the Union officials and Aker Solutions Workplace Representatives on Monday, October 2, 2017 for talks on how to bring this to resolution.”
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