In Scotland workers at the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) the General Lighthouse Authority for the country and the Isle of Man, are set to vote on whether to walk out for the first time in a dispute over pay.

The GLA which has its main marine depot in Oban, deploys and maintains beacons and buoys, could go out if lighthouse workers vote for strike action in a dispute over pay, a union has warned.

Members of Unite, which are employed by the NLB, are being balloted on the strike action in what the union said is a historic first.

Unite said the NLB has offered 2% following a pay freeze last year.

In response the union branded “insulting”, describing it as a substantial real-terms pay cut over two years.

Around 30 Unite members, including able-seamen from the NLB’s two aids to navigation vessels, base assistants, cooks and technicians, will take part in the ballot.

The ballot opened on Tuesday March 28 and is to close on Monday April 24.

More from STV News on this development.