Union leaders say North Sea divers have a dangerous job
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Ballot papers have been issued as North Sea deep sea divers threaten strike action over pay, BBC Scotland has revealed.
Oil and gas production could be hit if the strike goes ahead, amid calls for a 50% rise.
About 700 divers and support workers would be involved in action.
The RMT union said divers were involved in dangerous work and were unhappy they had been offered a 15% rise over three years.
'Massive profits'
If they vote for strike action they could withdraw their labour from 1 November.
The RMT said that despite the ballot papers being issued its door was still open for negotiations.
RMT spokesperson Steve Todd told BBC Scotland: "It's probably the most dangerous job of the lot out in the North Sea.
"It's obvious to everybody that the industry is having a really good time at the moment.
"The oil companies are raking in massive profits and it's about time the profits were dispersed among these people at the very sharp end of the coal face."
One-Minute World News
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