FERRY services to Orkney will face disruption later this month, a union has warned after workers backed industrial action amid an escalating pay dispute.
Unite the Union confirmed on Wednesday that its Orkney Ferries members will take part in a ban on overtime starting from August 28.
The union said that more than 20 outer north and inner isles Orkney Ferries workers will take part in the industrial action after they “overwhelmingly rejected” a two-year pay offer.
The workers taking part in the overtime ban cover a range of roles including engineers, passenger and customer services assistants along with chefs.
Unite claimed that due to the ferries relying on the goodwill of workers to take shifts beyond their contracted hours and at short notice that services could be reduced by the industrial action.
Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham said the union will fully back its Orkney Ferries members for a better pay deal.
She said: “Orkney Ferries must come back to the negotiating table with an enhanced offer or the overtime ban will last for months. This action will result in ferry services being reduced due to the intransigence of Orkney Ferries.
“Unite will fully back our members all the way workers in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”
Paula Buchan, Unite industrial officer, added: “The overtime ban will inevitably result in disruption to ferry services and delays for passengers but Orkney Ferries is directly responsible due to its failure to negotiate a fair deal for workers.
“Unite has repeatedly tried to resolve this pay dispute with management but they are doing their very best to make this situation harder to fix.”
Orkney Ferries have been approached for comment.
