The offshore trade union OILC, formed in the wake of the 1988 Piper Alpha disaster, has merged with the 80,000- strong RMT. Just over 1000 of the OILC's 2500 members took part in the ballot and almost 80% of them were in favour.

THE offshore trade union OILC, formed in the wake of the 1988 Piper Alpha disaster, has merged with the 80,000- strong RMT.

Just over 1000 of the OILC's 2500 members took part in the ballot and almost 80% of them were in favour.

In total, just over 30% of the union members supported the proposal which was endorsed by a special meeting of the RMT last year.

From May 1, the OILC, which will retain its own identity, will be the offshore arm of the larger union which already represents diving and catering workers offshore.

"This is a historic day for trade unionism in the offshore sector," said OILC general secretary Jake Molloy who will become lead officer for the new RMT offshore section.

"It was right OILC members had the final say, but joining forces with a union built on grassroots involvement and which fights for workers' rights can do nothing but good in a sector notoriously difficult to organise.

"Together we will have the resources and the experience to organise for better safety and to win better pay and conditions and job security for offshore workers."

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said: "It makes sound industrial sense for two unions organising in the same sector and with the same outlook to join forces.

"Our job is to make life safer for the workers. That is our first priority. We can talk about better pay and better conditions but if you are dead or injured that becomes a nonentity.

"Our number one priority will be safety in the workplace and after that securing the best terms and conditions for our members. We don't believe in reasonable pay, we believe in good pay. We don't believe in reasonable conditions, we believe in good conditions."