THE Unite union has won a real-terms pay boost for oil and gas workers at Equans FM, but has called on other operators to follow suit.

Control room, electrical, mechanical and field operators at  Shetland’s Sullom Voe terminal have voted to back a three-year deal negotiated by their union which will not only see an immediate 9 per cent rise in their pay backdated to April 2023 but a wage rise of 2.5 per cent above the RPI measure of inflation in the year ahead.

Welcoming the deal, Unite regional officer John Clark called on other operators at the site such as Worley Services — where workers are preparing to strike over pay, terms, conditions and union recognition — to follow the Equans FM example and  negotiate meaningfully.

He said: “Unite is delighted to have secured a really good deal for our Equans FM membership.

“The workers will receive a 9 per cent increase backdated to last April plus another two years of inflation-proof wage increases.

“This sends a strong signal to other companies based at Sullom Voe to work constructively with Unite to resolve pay disputes.”