(Adds detail)
LONDON, April 28 (Reuters) - Loadings of the Brent crude oil
stream in the British North Sea, which underpin the global Brent
benchmark contract, would stop in mid-May if no deal is
reached between the Unite union and the Shetland Islands Council
employing them.
"We are hoping to get a resolution without strike action,
but if we do need to take action it will have a major impact on
the Sullom Voe Terminal. Our members on the tugs bring the
tankers into port, and without them the tankers will not be able
to be loaded or unloaded," Unite officer John Boland said.
"There is limited storage at Sullom Voe, so this could have
an impact on production for the Brent and Ninian fields."
The Sullom Voe terminal itself is operated by EnQuest
which said it was talking to Shetland Island Council
officials to understand what impact to services may be
anticipated from potential strike action.
The strike was being called over a dispute about workers
being denied a "service award" after their transfer to Shetland
Islands Council (SIC) in 2006, the union said in a release late
on Wednesday.
Brent crude differentials rose on Wednesday as bidders were
willing to pay more.
(Reporting by Shadia Nasralla, editing by Louise Heavens)
Enquest (ENQ)
Unite (UTG)