Planned North Sea strikes that would involve hundreds of workers could be avoided after an updated deal was tabled.
Trade union Unite confirmed that an improved offer from Ponticelli and Semco has been put to members in a consultative ballot.
The vote will close at midday today.
But the trade union said that, although the offer was better, it does not “address all the concerns” voiced by its members.
As it stands, scores of workers are due to down tools and start an overtime ban from the beginning of next month due to a clash over pay, terms and conditions.
It covers almost 300 workers at Ponticelli and Semco Maritime, who work on TotalEnergies (LON: TTE) UK portfolio.
Alongside Brand Energy, which is not embroiled in the dispute, Ponticelli and Semco Maritime form the PBS consortium.
The group employs more than 600 people across TotalEnergies’ assets.
Unite secured a mandate to push ahead with strikes last week after workers voted in favour of industrial action.
It’s claimed the changes would impact the pensions, sick pay, and work allowances of employees.
John Boland, regional organiser at Unite, said: “We received an improved offer from Ponticelli and Semco that has been put back to members in a consultative ballot, that closes at noon tomorrow.
“Although better, this offer does not address all the concerns our members have, and they will decide if the new offer is acceptable or not.”
Though unclear how the industrial action will be formulated, should it go ahead, it will impact TotalEnergies’ Culzean, Dunbar, Elgin-Franklin and North Alwyn assets, as well as the Shetland Gas Plant, the Ailsa FSO vessel, and the Gryphon FPSO.
Andreas Christophersen, PBS director said: “PBS continues to work closely with employee representatives and the unions, and awaits the result of the ballot on this new package.”
Though not linked to the planned strikes, it was recently revealed that PBS is exploring redundancy proposals that could reduce its headcount by 10%.
A maintenance work cut of 21% could also be incurred.
In a joint statement Unite, RMT and GMB, slammed the plans, flagging the potential safety risk of cutting workers.
PBS secured the deal for work on TotalEnergies’ assets last year, despite a separate group of contractors – including Aker Solutions, Bilfinger, Muehlhan, Petrofac, Stork, Wood and Worley – being in line to secure the contract.
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