THE North Sea oil industry is facing the threat of widespread industrial action after workers rejected plans to change traditional shift patterns.

Members of trade union Unite within the Offshore Contractors Association (OCA) voted against the move in a ballot, increasing the likelihood of industrial action at OCA, which has 20,000 members across almost all installations in the North Sea.

The vote to reject plans for a three weeks on, three weeks off shift pattern - instead of a two-on, three-off rota - came as it was revealed Wood Group PSN is to shed around 200 jobs as a result of proposals to do the same with workers there.

A total of 750 employees on the energy giant's Talisman Sinopec contract are now facing a risk of redundancy, with the group seeking a total reduction of around 20 per cent of the workforce.

Unite warned that the change of shift pattern was a serious threat to livelihoods and could have an impact on health and safety in the industry.

Willie Wallace, an industrial officer for the union, said: "We said previously that our members would have the final say and they are clear that the OCA offer isn’t good enough.

"North Sea employers must do more to address the deep concerns our members have over these shift pattern changes - from loss of earnings and livelihoods to the impact on workplace health and safety and quality of life.

"We are not blind to the challenges facing the industry, indeed we are acutely aware it because the human cost of the downturn is clear in the deep cuts to our members’ incomes and livelihoods.

"However, the lesson the industry has to take from this process is that it must consult and engage with our members in a far more meaningful manner and that any changes impacting lives and livelihoods should not be imposed."

A total of 63.5 per cent of Unite members balloted voted against OCA's offer of variable remuneration to mitigate the impact of the changes.

The result of a similar ballot by GMB union members at OCA is yet to be revealed.

Bill Murray, chief executive of the OCA, said he was "extremely disappointed" with the Unite result and warned that strike action would only serve to make investment in the North Sea less attractive and "jeopardise the long-term future of the industry".

He added: "We believe that we have acted as a fair negotiator throughout this process and that our offer balances the needs of workers with the requirements of business at this challenging time.

"While we have proposed a necessary wage freeze in the face of the urgent need to make efficiencies and zero per cent inflation across the UK, we have offered to address two long standing issues in these negotiations on sick pay and holiday pay.

"Our offer is worth on average up to £7,000 per annum extra per individual. This can only be paid for through productivity increases if we are to avoid further redundancies."

The redundancies at Wood Group PSN were revealed in a letter to staff which states that the group will be consulting with employees from August 10.

In the letter, business manager for Talisman Sinopec, Neil McIntyre, says: "We are writing to advise you that to move to an Equal Time Rotation from a 2:3 rotation, this will introduce a proposed reduction of at least 20 per cent of the workforce.

"The company is proposing to reduce the headcount within WGPSN’s OMS Talisman Sinopec Offshore business by approximately 200 positions across all offshore/site locations. This will mean around 750 employees being placed at risk of redundancy until a consultation period of no less than 45 days has been completed."

The latest round of cuts for the North Sea came as industry body Oil & Gas UK warned that further job losses are expected in the area, which has already seen more than 5500 jobs shed since the slump in oil prices one year ago.

A spokeswoman for Wood Group PSN said: "We continuously review our resource requirements to drive efficiency and effectiveness in our service provision.

"Wood Group PSN management is working closely with our employees impacted, the GMB and Unite unions."