North Sea workers begin 24-hour strike today

NORTH Sea workers are going ahead with a 24hour strike after the failure to resolve a row over plans to cut pay and allowances.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union and Unite employed by the Wood Group on Shell platforms were due to walk out at 6.30am today, with further stoppages planned.

Around 400 workers will be involved in the strike, as well as a ban on overtime, following overwhelming support for action from members of both unions.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “After savage redundancies and attacks on workload and working conditions this group of offshore workers are now going to be railroaded into accepting pay cuts of up to 30%.

“We are well aware that the company chief executive has had a pay increase of 28% to bring him up to £600,000. It is obscene.

“This brave group of workers are taking a stand against the greed and savagery that is a mark of corporate Britain in 2016.”

John Boland, Unite regional officer, said: “To say we are disappointed it has had to come to this is an understatement, but bosses at Wood Group are simply not listening.”

Dave Stewart, chief executive of Wood Group’s eastern region business unit, said: “Although we are extremely disappointed that industrial action will be taken, we respect the right of those employees who choose to do so.

“Our firm focus remains on reaching a resolution, which meets our mutual goal of sustaining these jobs for our employees in the North Sea now and in the future, against the backdrop of an extremely challenging climate created by the sustained low oil price.”