The companies involved in the dispute are Petrofac, Balfour Beatty Engineering Services, Bilfinger Industrial Services (BIS) & Randridge.

Balfour is working for main contractor Petrofac on the site located to the east of the established Sullom Voe oil terminal on Shetland.

The dispute centres on a claim for an additional £50 per day to compensate for the alleged failure to provide suitable accommodation for members and an additional claim for payment for lengthy traveling time undertaken each day.

Workers employed on the job are housed on a giant barge at Lerwick harbour.

The Sella Ness Accommodation Facility opened in July 2011 and can accommodate up to 850 people.

A statement from the joint GMB and Unite shop stewards committee said:

“This afternoon at a Unite & GMB mass meeting of engineering construction workers at the Total’s new build Shetland Gas Plant, the union members voted unanimously to reject the offer tabled by the main contractor, Petrofac, concerning the dispute over travel time & shared accommodation in bunk beds.

“The workforce will now start industrial strike action on the Shetland Gas Plant with a 24 hour stoppage of work starting at midnight Thursday 23^rd/ Friday 24^th January.

“Petrofac have also been informed that there will be further strike action in the coming weeks, until an acceptable offer is made to the engineering construction workers on the Shetland Gas Plant.”