U.K. North Sea diving personnel employed in the oil and gas industry have reached a "complete stalemate and impasse" with employers over pay, and are resolute about striking from midnight Oct. 31 a spokesman from divers' union RMT said Tuesday.

"There was no improvement on the offer tabled" by employers at a recent meeting between the RMT and employers to discuss a new pay-deal after divers rejected an offer made in early September by 640 to two, said RMT spokesman Stan Herschel.

"We'll be going ahead with the withdrawal of staff. From midnight on Oct.31, all staff will cease work," Herschel said.

"My members are all out indefinitely. Until there's an offer on the table that we're happy with, they will strike," he said.

Herschel added that no new meetings have been scheduled between the RMT and employers to attempt to avert a strike.

The 820 divers and diving personnel set to strike from Oct. 31 are employed by North Sea service supply companies including Halliburton Co. (HAL), Acergy SA(ACY.OS) and Stolt Nielsen SA (SNI.OS), which provide a wide range of sub-sea services for North Sea oil and gas producers, Herschal said.

"There is a high level of maintenance currently being carried out" in the North Sea, he said.

"A lot of work currently is associated with opening up old wells due to the high oil price," Herschal said. Divers also work to prevent or stem oil leakages and pollution, and there is a safety and emergency response aspect, he added.

The RMT has said divers' wages have slipped nearly 20% behind average U.K. earnings since 1984, and union members are claiming a 50% increase in pay, against employers' offers of 15% over three years.

Herschal said employers are currently carrying out a communications exercise, explaining to all the divers why they can't give the requested pay increase.

The negotiations will be watched closely by the diving communities worldwide, Herschal said because, current pay dissatisfaction aside, "the agreement in the North Sea is one of the best in the world" Herschal said.

"It sets the standard," he added. The RMT has received messages of support from Norwegian, Australian and Dutch unions amongst others, Herschal said.