Unite Petrofac members resolute in ongoing dispute over pay and conditions

Unite, the UK’s largest industrial union, confirmed today (8 December) that around 146 members will begin strike action at the Petrofac Repsol installations on 8th and 9thDecember as a result of an ongoing, and increasingly bitter dispute over pay and working terms. The dispute relates to the removal of a 10 per cent Equal Time payment, years of below inflationary pay increases as well as issues around payments for OEUK medicals, mileage and stand in duties.

In a separate dispute, Unite members at Petrofac’s BP installations: Andrew, Clair, Clair Ridge, ETAP, and Glen Lyon installations will also begin strike action on 8 and 9 December. The Petrofac BP dispute centres on the working rotation, which is currently a work 3 on/3 off rotation. An industrial action ballot returned a result of 98.3 per cent in favour of industrial action. This action involves 76 members.

Unite anticipates that the strike action at both Petrofac Repsol and Petrofac BP are likely to cause considerable disruption.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Offshore oil and gas companies are making eye-watering profits yet are playing Scrooge when it comes to the workers that create those profits. Instead of working to resolve this dispute management are prolonging it. Their actions are those of a greedy and callous employer hell-bent on making their workers worse off while their shareholders bathe in the wealth created by my members. Unite supports, and will continue to support our members at Petrofac for as long as it takes for them to achieve a resolution.

Unite industrial officer John Boland, on behalf of the workforce stated: “Our members have faced a real terms pay cut and an attack on their working terms over years as a result of them taking Petrofac’s word that they would do the right thing. The workers involved in these disputes are resolute in their determination to continue with ongoing action until their claims are met. Petrofac can not only afford to pay up and settle this dispute, they should do so now in order that workers on these installations can get on with the job.

Ends.

For media enquiries contact: John Boland on 07918630435
Notes to Editors
Unite Scotland is the country’s biggest and most diverse trade union with around 150,000 members. The union is led in Scotland by Pat Rafferty.