Union’s call for support package

A union boss has stepped up calls for a support package for offshore workers amid concerns some may flout coronavirus advice in order to provide for their families.

Oil and Gas UK, along with a host of offshore unions, has been calling for a resilience package to protect jobs as North Sea installations are downmanned and activity is reduced.

Jake Molloy, regional organiser of the RMT union, said they would never condone anyone ignoring health warnings but, without government support, there is concern

“They’re going to go even if they’ve been exposed”

that some workers will risk it.

He said: “If guys are told they have to stay at home for underlying health issues, or the installation is downmanned for safety reasons, then they’ll accept that because they can rely on the job retention stuff.

“But if that job retention stuff isn’t there – and it isn’t currently – then, and we would not condone this, inevitably it’s the natural thing that they’ve got to put food on the table and they’re going to take that chance.

“They’re going to go even if they have been close or they have been exposed or whatever.

“That’s why this whole package revolves around finance as much as it does around health and safety.”