NORTH Sea oil giant Wood Group will cut rates paid to contractors, it announced yesterday in what Unite called “another blow” for workers.

The 9 per cent pay fall will affect around 200 of Wood Group’s contractors and is the third cut since 2014.

Wood Group Britain and Africa managing director James Crawford said the decision has not been taken lightly, but believed “it is the right one to proactively meet the continuing cost and resourcing challenges affecting the UK North Sea oil and gas sector.”