SHETLAND ferry crews have voted to strike after a pay dispute lasting

five years.

Should the industrial action go ahead as planned on August 18,

thousands of islanders on nine ferry routes will be cut off from the

Shetland mainland.

The economy of the islands, including tourism, could be badly hit

unless further talks between the ferry operator, Shetland Islands

Council, and the union avert the strike.

Mr John Taylor, the Transport and General Workers union officer in

Aberdeen, yesterday announced the results of a ballot of almost 100

ferry workers.

Eighty six members voted for industrial action and four were against.

A total of 101 ballot papers were sent out. Mr Taylor confirmed the

strike would start on August 18.

The dispute has been going on for five years after an agreement

resulted in some workers being paid more than others for the same work.

Now the union wants to see rates of pay made equal.

The council has said it cannot afford the union's proposals and

instead wants the issue linked with new plans for training for the

crews, claiming better qualifications will lead to higher rates of pay.

Mr Taylor said: ''We have been meeting with the council over the last

four weeks and have put proposals that would limit the initial impact of

paying the same rate of pay. So far, there has been no response.''

He added: ''We have been asking for the same rates of pay for the last

five years so, unless the council is prepared to give us that, the

strike will go ahead.''

Mr Jim Smith, council vice convener, said negotiations had not broken

down and a meeting with union representatives was planned for today.

He said increasing workers' pay would lead to cuts in the service or

increased fares. Councillors will discuss a response to the strike

threat, he added.

It is not clear what would happen in a medical emergency. If it does

not warrant an airlift, the ferries are normally called out.

Mr Taylor said the union had been asking the council to discuss

emergency cover for the last three months but the council had refused to

talk about it.