Petition to sack OCA chief over offshore changes

Hundreds of people have called for the chief executive of the Offshore Contractors Association to be sacked.

Atotal of 237 people have signed a petition aimed at trying to force Paul Atkinson, boss of the offshore employers group, to step down.

The petition had been live for just 24 hours when it topped the 200-signatures mark and the aim is to deliver it in person when 300 names have been gathered.

It reads: “We the undersigned call onthe rest of the board of the OCA to call a meeting as soon as possible and strip Mr Atkinson of his position as chief executive of the OCA.

“He is making a mockery of this organisation, the workforce and the unions with the current OCA offer.”

The petition was launched in the wake of workforce consultation over plans to add 15 minutes to the working day.

The OCA has put forward the changes to terms and co n d i- tions, including shift patterns, holiday and sick pay. Members of the RMT union have called for the new offer to be rejected. They claimsomeof the proposals suggested could set the North Sea oil and gas industry “back years” and described several aspects of the offer as “retrograde”.

It’s understood the move could lead to the axing of the equivalent of a tea break for staff.

The call for action on the petition added: “This man is attempting to hide behind health and safety in order to drive down unreasonable, unrealistic costs, which will put the offshore workforce in a dangerous position whilst claiming over £ 130,000 a year salary.”

Signatories aired their support for the petition’s call for the chief executive to step down.

John M said: “Time to stand up and be counted.”

Dave E commented: “I believe that if we don't act now then we have a good chance of these cuts being forced on us in the new year.”

The OCA was unavailable for comment.

Paul Atkinson