Total offshore workers in strike ballot

A union is balloting offshore members at three North Sea platforms for industrial action in a row of over terms and conditions.

Unite said its members at Total E&P on the Alwyn, Elgin and Dunbar platforms will be given ballot papers with two questions, support for an overtime ban and for day stoppages – effectively a 24-hour strike.

Workers agreed to work 14 days extra offshore at the height of the downturn in the oil industry and now the union wants the days back and a return to a two weeks on, three weeks off rota.

Currently the platforms operate this rota, but twice a year staff work three weeks on and two weeks off to account for the 14 extra days. The union claims Total has proposed a three weeks on, three weeks off rota – meaning an extra seven days offshore.

Wullie Wallace, Unite regional industrial officer, said: “The intransigence of Total E&P in the context of our members doing all they could to help the company during the downturn is staggering. Unite members gave up their claw-back days for no extra payment and instead the company’s idea of a reward is to impose extra working days.”

A Total spokesman said: “The consultation process is now under way and we will maintain an open dialogue with all of our workforce and their representatives.”

The ballot closes on June 28.