North Sea action comes up dry for unions so new round of strikes planned

Workers who have been taking industrial action in the North Sea are bringing their current strike to a close.

But, with the thousand-plus strikers not receiving offers from their employers, Unite the Union plans further action, with dates to be announced.

Trade body Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) opposed strike action, telling The Press & Journal’s sister website Energy Voice: “Workers in all sectors across the UK are feeling the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, however industrial action does not offer a solution, nor is it helpful for our sector, which is doing all it can to attract essential investment to protect jobs and meet the UK’s energy needs.”

Irene Bruce, OEUK’s energy services agreement (Esa) manager, added: “We understand some progress is being made, and discussions are continuing.

“As before, some installations will experience reduced staffing levels, however the focus remains maintaining safe operations for our people and on continuity of production to maintain energy security for the UK.”

Yesterday marked the last day of industrial action for most of the firms involved, however, Petrofac workers will have their last day of strike action today.

There have been 1,200 union members downing tools looking for better pay and conditions.

Union members employed by Petrofac, Wood, Stork, Sparrows and Bilfinger downed tools on Wednesday as part of an ongoing dispute that saw 1,400 workers take strike action last month.

Unite’s Bilfinger representative has confirmed that members employed by the firm have not received any offers since they began the 48 hours of industrial action which came to a close on Thursday.

Wood has said it has no updates to provide on the situation and the other firms involved have not confirmed if they have provided their staff with an offer.

All firms involved have been asked for comment on the situation.

Wood supplied an offer to employees ahead of the action on Wednesday but it was rejected.

Ahead of the action, a Wood spokeswoman said: “We are disappointed that a proposal offering increased pay and a new retention scheme for all Wood employees working on Taqa’s UK assets has been rejected.

“We believe the new offer addresses the issues raised by our employees and the trade unions, providing a fair and mutually acceptable resolution to all parties.

“We are working alongside our client on contingency planning.”

The topic has been a hot one with First Minister Humza Yousaf addressing the issue at the opening of the All Energy conference in Glasgow this week.

Mr Yousaf called for all parties to find a resolution to the wave of strike action, saluting the “phenomenal contribution” that offshore oil and gas workers have made to Scotland over the years.

Unite strike action at Bilfinger.