Unite the Union will ballot 140 workers at Shell’s Mossmorran plant in Fife for strike action.
It affects Kaefer contractors, including scaffold inspectors, supervisors, riggers and forklift drivers, who are in a dispute over pay.
Unite stepped in after Kaefer made no formal cost of living offer for the year.
Unite says it has been left with “no option” but to launch the ballot and it is blaming the operator Shell for the stand-off.
Balloting starts on Monday and will close on November 13.
The union says that without the workers the plant near Cowdenbeath will be severely impacted and would not be able to operate safely.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “Kaefer has left our members at the Mossmorran plant with no option but to vote for strikes.
“These workers help make Shell’s bonanza profits – they need and deserve a cost of living payment, yet they are being offered nothing.
“Unite will back our Kaefer members all the way in the fight for better jobs, pay and a conditions.”
Bob MacGregor, Unite industrial officer, added: “Without these workers the Mossmorran plant can’t operate safely. Kaefer and Shell are treating our members with contempt and Unite will not let this situation go unchallenged.
“Unite’s members are rightly angry that they work in a plant owned by Shell who are raking in billions while Kaefer makes no offer at all to address the cost of living pressures our members face. Our members are fully prepared to take Kaefer and Shell head-on to get the cost of living payment that they deserve and which reflects their hard work.”
Hundreds of workers went on strike last month over alleged major health and safety concerns.
They also claimed the operator was not paying the wages of those on strike.
A total of 200 withdrew their labour.
Shell PLC reported profits of £7.6 billion for the first three months of the year, and £3.9 billion for the three months to the end of June. Profits rocketed to £32.2billion in 2022, double the previous year's total.
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