Workers facing redundancy at the Fife plant of a global engineering firm are to take strike action.
Around 120 staff at Oceaneering, in Rosyth, face losing their jobs and have learned they will be paid only statutory redundancy packages.
Industrial action has been launched as Unite Scotland said staff had been given a ‘slap in the face’ by an employer which made profits of over $231 million last year.
The union accused the company, which awarded enhanced payments during previous rounds of redundancies in 2008, 2009 and 2013, of going back on a previous agreement.
A ban began on Friday on overtime work at the Dundas Road base and a 48-hour strike is to begin on Tuesday.
Texas-based Oceaneering announced in January that jobs would go among the 210-strong workforce in Rosyth and consultation continues as the union tries to save as many posts as it can.
Unite Scotland regional officer Ian Ewing said: “Our members have worked their socks off to deliver for this company and they should be treated with fairness and respect.
“Our members accepted there would be no wage rise in 2015 and 2016 and this has helped the company keep healthy profits in a difficult period.
“We understand that the work done in Rosyth has made the company over $15m in the first six months of 2016.
“For the company to then declare over half of their workforce is at risk of redundancy and to say that they intend to only pay statutory redundancy is a slap in the face.
“Our members will not accept such unfair treatment. They are shocked and angry. That is why they have instructed the union to commence with the industrial dispute action.”
Oceaneering provides engineering services and products primarily to the offshore oil and gas industry and blamed reduced demand amid the decline in crude oil prices for the job cuts.
Dunfermline and West Fife MP Douglas Chapman, who with Rosyth councillor Sharon Wilson has been involved in discussions, urged both the company and trade union to come to some a sensible arrangement for raising redundancy payments above the statutory minimum.
He said: “It is in no one’s interest to have this situation continue any longer and it may result in more redundancies further down the line if those using Oceaneering services lose confidence in its ability to deliver on time through industrial action being taken.
“We hope common sense will prevail.”
Oceaneering did not comment yesterday.
Under statutory redundancy payments, the most even long-serving employees can receive is £14,370.
