Offshore staff
LONDON — Unite the Union confirmed April 3 that about 150 Sparrows Offshore Services contractors will start strike action April 5.
A series of stoppages will continue up to June 9 by Sparrows contractors in a dispute over pay, which will hit more than 20 oil and gas platforms. The platforms to be impacted by industrial action include Ap1, Auk Brae, Alpha, Brent Charlie, Bruce, Cleeton, Claymore, Clyde, Cpc1, Eider Alpha, Flying Squad, Gannet Harding, Heather, Ineos Unity, Jade, Judy, Lomond, Magnus, North Cormorant, North Everest, Ravenspurn North, Tern Alpha, Thistle Alpha & Seton House, Denmore Road, Murcar Industrial Estate, Bridge Of Don Aberdeen, AB23 8JW.
The union said 95.5% of its members previously voted to take strike action on a 75% turnout. The strike action will hit a number of major operators including Apache, Shell and Harbour Energy. The workers include offshore crane operatives, crane maintainers, lifting personnel and deck crew. The strike action involves Sparrows’ "Flying Squad," which provide maintenance support across all installations with no set platform.
Unite General Secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “Oil and gas companies in the North Sea have had massive windfall profits so there’s no question that they can afford to give Unite members a decent pay rise. Around 150 Sparrows offshore workers will lead the fight for a decent deal in what is going to be a tsunami of industrial action to challenge the profiteering of North Sea operators and contractors. Unite will support all our members every step of the way in this fight for better jobs, pay and conditions."
The action by Sparrows workers is the opening round in a widely anticipated "tsunami" of industrial action in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS), which could shutdown dozens of platforms.
The prospective action includes electrical, production and mechanical technicians in addition to deck crew, scaffolders crane operators, pipefitters, platers and riggers working for Bilfinger UK Ltd., Stork construction, Petrofac facilities management, the Wood Group UK Ltd., and Worley Services UK Ltd.
Unite said it has blasted the UK government's inaction on taxing oil firms as bp posted the biggest profits in its history as it doubled to £23 billion ($28.7 billion) in 2022. bp’s bonanza profits come after Shell reports earnings of £32 billion ($40 billion), bringing the combined total profits of the top two energy companies in Britain to a record £55 billion ($68.7 billion).
04.04.2023
