Offshore staff
ABERDEEN, UK — Unite the Union members employed by Petrofac on Repsol Sinopec Resources platforms in the central UK North Sea have started industrial action.
This involves a 48-hour stoppage today and tomorrow and a continuous overtime ban, with a further 48-hour stoppage scheduled for Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
Unite said the action by about 146 members would cause disruption to maintenance and safe running of the Arbroath, Auk, Bleo Holm, Claymore, Clyde, Fulmar, Montrose, Piper, Saltire and Tartan platforms, and at the Flotta oil reception terminal on Orkney.
The dispute concerns the removal of a 10% Equal Time payment, along with the offer of a pay rise below the current UK inflation rate for the next few years and other conditions.
Unite claims Petrofac management has reneged on a commitment to review benefits in 2020, at a time when the average price of a barrel of Brent crude was about $18, compared to current levels of about $98.
Another dispute involving the union’s members has been resolved, with a large majority of the 3,000 offshore catering staff serving UK oil and gas installations accepting the 10% pay increase offered by the Catering Offshore Trade Association (COTA). Terms included a backdated payment of about £1,000 (US$1,185) for the lower grades in December.
Companies affected included Aramark, Conntrak, Entier, ESS, FOSS & ESG, and Sodexo.
11.16.2022
