LONDON: Britain's Unite union on Thursday recommended that 2,500 of its members covered by the Offshore Contractors Association accept a new pay offer, averting the threat of a strike that could have affected 106 North Sea oil platforms.

"An online consultative ballot will open on Monday 17th December 2018, closing on Tuesday 8th January 2019 with Unite recommending acceptance of the pay offer," a union spokesman said in an emailed statement.