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RMTnews :: september 2006 :: www.rmt.org.uk 4 N early 700 diving personnel employed in the North Sea oil and gas industries are voting in a process that could lead to strike action that would have a massive impact on production. RMT is recommending rejection of an offshore diving industry offer which fails to address more than two decades of pay erosion. “For too long our members have been expected to swallow sub-inflation pay deals and suffer real-terms pay cuts, and the time has come to put that right,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said. Since 1984 members have seen their pay lag by nearly 20 per cent behind UK average earnings, and the employers’ offer of just 15 per cent over three years will not resolve the problem. Oil producers are leapfrogging each other’s record profits and their earnings are measured in millions by the day it is clear that our 50 per cent pay claim is entirely reasonable and completely affordable. “Diving is among the most demanding and short-lived of jobs in a particularly hazardous industry, and our members are telling us that they are in no mood to accept more offers of jam tomorrow,” added national secretary Steve Todd. “We are ready to talk, but when the oil companies are raking in massive profits it’s time that the people at the sharp end got a fair share,” Steve said. R MT fleet maintenance members at Northfields have stopped plans by their employer Tube Lines from imposing roster changes. Following a failure to agree on the rosters local managers threatened to impose them so a ballot for strike action was held. Lead negotiator and Council of Executives rep John Leach (right) held talks with management and an agreement was reached that the previous rosters would remain in place and negotiations with local reps would continue. John said that the involvement of local reps was vital in settling the dispute. “The members had had enough of being pushed about and stood firm. “They were clearly prepared to take action to defend themselves and the proposed rosters were withdrawn,” he said RMT NORTH SEA DIVERS VOTING ON PAY STRIKE NORTHFIELDS VICTORY A new history of the union, Never On Our Knees is available from Unity House at the reduced rate of £5.99 to members. Unity House, 39 Charlton Street, London NW1 1JD