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Strike divers vote to end dispute | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Hundreds of North Sea divers have overwhelmingly voted to accept a pay deal to end their strike action. | |
About 900 divers and support workers had been on indefinite strike since last week, seeking a 50% pay rise. | |
A deal, worth about 44% over two years, was offered in a bid to break the deadlock. | |
Stan Herschel from the RMT union told BBC Scotland that Friday's ballot result was 703 for and 127 against. The employers welcomed the result. | |
Mr Herschel said: "It's a massive vote in favour of acceptance. | |
"The first ballot may have been tainted by members' anger and frustration." | |
'Vital industry' | |
The Committee of Employer Signatories to the Offshore Diving Industry Agreement said in a statement: "We are delighted to have received news of the yes vote. | |
"Effectively it means that in two years divers and support teams will be earning 44.7% more than they are today. | |
"We look forward to welcoming the divers and support teams back to work and together serving an industry vital to the UK and global economy." | |
Offshore oil companies had said it was vital the dispute was brought to an end. | |
Divers previously voted against a new three-year deal offering a 20% increase immediately, plus more from April. | Divers previously voted against a new three-year deal offering a 20% increase immediately, plus more from April. |
Most of the workers involved were members of the RMT union. | |
There had been concern that any strike action would bring chaos to parts of the UK oil and gas sector. | |
The RMT said divers carry out probably the most dangerous job in the North Sea, working on wells and pipelines at depths of several hundred feet. |