BRIEF-UK's Unite Says Offshore Operators To Strike on BP's North Sea Platforms

UK'S UNITE: * SAYS SPARROWS OFFSHORE SERVICES ACTION TO HIT BP'S NORTH SEA PLATFORMS

* STRIKE ACTION WILL INVOLVE A SERIES OF 24 AND 48 HOUR STOPPAGES * HAS INDICATED THAT THE INDUSTRIAL ACTION COULD THEREAFTER ESCALATE TO ALL-OUT STRIKE ACTION AND A COMPLETE OVERTIME BAN

* STRIKE INVOLVES CREW WORKING ON BP'S ANDREW, CLAIR, CLAIR RIDGE, ETAP, GLEN LYON AND MUNGO INSTALLATIONS * GMB AND RMT TRADE UNIONS ARE ALSO BALLOTING THEIR MEMBERS WITHIN SPARROWS ON BP INSTALLATIONS