Workers ‘stuck’ on North Sea platform due to strike action

Offshore workers claim to have been left “stuck” on a North Sea platform as a result of strikes at Bristow helicopters.

Pilots and other crew members across bases in Aberdeen, Shetland and Norwich downed tools last week in the first of a series of strikes over pay.

Offshore workers on board the EnQuestoperated Kittiwake platform have said they have not been able to depart as planned due to the disruption.

It comes as further strikes are expected today with a risk of further disruption.

A source said EnQuest was unable to procure flights due to contacting issues and other operators were able to “skip the queue”.

They said some workers are now 26 days on board, having to cancel holidays, and another was at risk of missing their daughter’s wedding until the Petrofac offshore installation manager (OIM) intervened.

EnQuest had no comment when contacted.

A Bristow spokesperson said: “We are grateful for the support of our customers and the commitment of our teams to delivering safe operations during recent periods of poor weather and industrial action.”

The British Airline Pilots Association said last week that workers were “forced to strike” after the breakdown of talks calling for a “fair and reasonable pay offer”.

It said members had been accepting belowinflation settlements and pay freezes in recent years while Bristow “was experiencing financial difficulty”.

Helicopter crew members have downed tools.