Britain’s largest oil refinery, owned by ExxonMobil, faces potential shut-downs as Unite union members ballot for strike action over pay.
The union said it was balloting around 100 contractors at the Fawley refinery in Southampton following an “insulting” pay offer of 2.5% for the next two years.
Unite is representing 100 workers – about a third of the workforce – employed by contractors Trant Engineering, Veolia Services and Altrad Services.
“The employers need to take back this insulting pay offer, which is actually a cut, and think again,” said Unite general-secretary Sharon Graham.
“Our members have mounting bills to pay like everyone else, and with runaway inflation there is no way we will accept a derisory 2.5% for this workforce.”
Fawley is one of the UK’s six major crude refineries which together supply the bulk of its petrol stations and airports. Unite members on the site carry out roles including removing sewage, emergency works, and providing fuel to airports and petrol stations.
The union said strike action “could lead to shut downs across the plant” given some of the workers are in key safety roles.
A shortage of delivery drivers last summer led to a run on fuel at petrol stations around the country, triggering rationing and huge queues for drivers.
Consumer price inflation hit 5.5% last month, the steepest increase since 1992, with energy bills, clothing and footwear fuelling the rise.
