Unite offshore workers take strike action as dispute escalates

Unite has today (16 November) confirmed that its members on the Petrofac owned Repsol assets will take part in industrial action starting on 16 November with a continuous overtime ban and 48 hour stoppage taking place on 16 and 17 November. A further 48 hour stoppage will take place on 30 November and 1 December. This action will cause significant disruption to the maintenance and safe running of the platforms/terminal.

Around 146 members are involved in this dispute which centres on the removal  of a 10 per cent Equal Time payment, a continuous below inflationary increase of 3 per cent cost of living increase for years, payment for OEUK medicals, increase in mileage payments and stand in duties payment.

The dispute centres on Petrofac management reneging on a commitment to review benefits back in 2020 when the offshore contractor blamed cuts on the downturn in oil and gas prices. At that time the average price of a barrel of Brent crude oil (in U.S. dollars per barrel) was around $18,  it now stands at around  $98.

Unite has demanded that the 10 per cent wage cut be reversed, with pay increases reflecting inflationary costs and that the company fulfils its obligation to review the other payments.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s members at Petrofac’s Repsol assets have had enough.  This organisation fails to realise that our members are resolute and determined to make sure the promise made back in 2020 to review the pay and benefits is fulfilled and will continue with action until it is. Unite is 100 per cent with our Petrofac workers in seeking their demands for improvements on pay and benefits.

Unite regional officer John Boland said: “The anger that my members have at being betrayed on a commitment made and accepted in good faith, is palpable. Petrofac should understand that their failure to be reasonable and fair with the workforce on an ongoing basis, continually leads to my members resorting to industrial action when they just want to get on with the job.

“Unite’s members are due a decent pay rise after years of below inflation increases and they accepted the word of their employer that they would uphold a commitment to do just that.  However Petrofac have shown their true colours and broken their word and my members will no longer accept jam tomorrow.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Roles involved include: 

CHEMIST
DECK CREW      
DECK FOREMAN   
ELECTRICAL FOREMAN     
ELECTRICAL TECHNICIAN  
FOCAL POINT    
FOREMAN
INSTRUMENT TECHNICIAN  
LOGISTICS TECHNICIAN   
LOLAR  
MATERIAL CONTROLLER    
MECHANICAL TECHNICIAN  
PIPEFITTER     
PLATER 
PRODUCTION OPERATOR    
RIGGER 
SAFETY TECHNICIAN      
TELECOMS TECHNICIAN    
 

On the following assets;

ARBROATH       
AUK    
BLEO HOLM      
CLAYMORE       
CLYDE  
FULMAR 
MONTROSE       
PIPER  
SALTIRE
TARTAN 
FLOTTA OIL TERMINAL    

  • 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.