Tense negotiations continued last night in a bid to avert possible strike action by engineers against a North Sea helicopter firm.
Union representatives were locked in talks with CHC Helicopters until late in the evening after a second pay offer was voted down by around 80% of the workforce.
It is understood around 100 CHC engineers in Aberdeen and a small number in England are affected.
The helicopter firm has been locked in a more than 18 month battle with staff over pay and changes to working hours.
An original pay offer made earlier this month was rejected by 95% of engineering staff.
CHC said last night it had made a “fair offer” and pressed for continued negotiations.
But Unite union said it was prepared to “exhaust all avenues” to seek a resolution.
A CHC spokesperson said: “We believe we have made a very fair offer to our engineering workforce.
“We are keen to continue to work with Unite to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.”
Unite regional officer Shauna Wright said she would recommence talks with CHC to resolve the dispute.
She added: “We want to get around the table and look for a resolution prior to any industrial action, because the mandate is strong for industrial action – we took a vote so we have the mandate.
“However, we haven’t exhausted all avenues yet.”
In May, proposed strike action by CHC Helicopter’s North Sea pilots was averted after union members voted to accept a pay deal.
The British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) announced on May 8 that its members had voted for strike action after CHC Helicopters had failed to table an acceptable offer.
Of a 77% turnout, 94% voted for strikes and 100% voted for action short of a strike.
But that action was avoided after pilots accepted a 9.27% pay increase agreed until 2020.
Meanwhile, Unite union also brokered a deal last night which saw the UK North Sea workforce of Norwegian firm Odfjell Drilling’s accepted a new pay deal.
The UK union said staff had voted in favour of a 3% pay increase that includes holiday pay and an increase in Christmas holiday pay.
The new deal, understood to run from this year up 2020, was accepted by 82% of those voting in a consultative ballot.
Unite said 93% of its members participating in the ballot.
Recommended for you
