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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Divers to strike as deal rejected | Divers to strike as deal rejected |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| About 900 North Sea divers and support personnel will begin an indefinite strike from midnight after rejecting the latest pay offer from employers. | |
| Members of the RMT union voted against the new three-year deal by 516 to 240 in a poll that closed at noon. | Members of the RMT union voted against the new three-year deal by 516 to 240 in a poll that closed at noon. |
| The offer, recommended by union bosses, promised a 20% increase immediately, plus another 5% from April next year. | |
| There has been concern that any strike action would bring chaos to parts of the UK oil and gas sector. | There has been concern that any strike action would bring chaos to parts of the UK oil and gas sector. |
| The RMT said divers were carrying out probably the most dangerous job in the North Sea. | The RMT said divers were carrying out probably the most dangerous job in the North Sea. |
| Our members have now made it quite clear the offer on the table falls short of their aspirations Bob CrowRMT union | Our members have now made it quite clear the offer on the table falls short of their aspirations Bob CrowRMT union |
| They descend to depths of up to 130ft in freezing waters, carrying out installation and maintenance work on wells and pipelines. | |
| The latest poll followed a ballot in September on an earlier pay deal. | The latest poll followed a ballot in September on an earlier pay deal. |
| The RMT said the walkout would continue for as long as it took for employers to come back with a better deal. | The RMT said the walkout would continue for as long as it took for employers to come back with a better deal. |
| 'Substantial offer' | |
| The union's general secretary Bob Crow said: "This result shows just how angry RMT diving personnel have become after 20 years of pay erosion. | The union's general secretary Bob Crow said: "This result shows just how angry RMT diving personnel have become after 20 years of pay erosion. |
| "North Sea divers do a particularly difficult job in a hazardous industry, yet over two decades their earnings have slipped by 20% in the average pay tables, while the oil and gas companies have been raking in super-profits. | "North Sea divers do a particularly difficult job in a hazardous industry, yet over two decades their earnings have slipped by 20% in the average pay tables, while the oil and gas companies have been raking in super-profits. |
| "Our members have now made it quite clear the offer on the table falls short of their aspirations and they will therefore be on strike from a minute after midnight tonight." | "Our members have now made it quite clear the offer on the table falls short of their aspirations and they will therefore be on strike from a minute after midnight tonight." |
| A spokesman for the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA) said: "We are disappointed that the divers have rejected the latest substantial pay offer despite their union's recommendation to accept it. | |
| "We sincerely hope that the strike will have no effect on North Sea production, although the winter period is a quiet time for diving activity because of the seasonal nature of the work on account of the weather." |