UK’s largest offshore trade union Unite informed that offshore workers employed by Petrofac on the FPF1 platform, and Wood Group on TAQA platforms would resume strike action next week.
Unite said that around 80 members working for the Wood Group UK will take 48-hour strike action beginning on June 19 in the first of a series of stoppages throughout June and July.
The workers, posted on Cormorant Alpha, North Cormorant, and Tern Alpha, scheduled four 48-hour strikes beginning on June 19, June 28, July 3, and July 12.
In a separate dispute based on working rotas, around 50 Unite members employed by Petrofac Facilities Management Limited will also take a series of 24-hour stoppages – eight in total – on the FPF1 platform beginning on June 21 with the last one scheduled for July 14.
“The trend is crystal clear. Offshore workers are taking a stand and they are winning better jobs, pay and conditions. Unite’s members at Petrofac and the Wood Group will have their union’s full support in the latest phase of their strike action,” Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said.
Unite is demanding the reinstatement of a 10% cut to salaries made by the Wood Group in 2015 worth around £7,000 (around $9,000) a year and an enhanced redundancy and retention scheme.
The dispute involving Unite’s Petrofac members is based on the operator Ithaca Energy having a ‘clawback’ policy of 14 days, which is the financial equivalent to £6,000 lost income per person. This policy is significantly above the industry norm of seven days.
“Unite’s Petrofac members on the FPF1 platform, and Wood Group members on TAQA platforms are absolutely determined to fight on. These disputes are based on the failure of both the contractors and operators to provide a good working environment,” John Boland, Unite industrial officer, added.
Last week, Unite confirmed that over 700 offshore members at Bilfinger UK accepted an improved wage offer bringing their pay dispute to an end. They accepted a further 6% increase in basic pay in addition to the 4% rise in January 2023. With other uplifts made by Bilfinger in November 2022, the increase in basic pay has been lifted by up to 19% for some members in less than a year.
UK workers are by no means the only ones up in arms. Earlier this week, over 900 Norwegian workers on offshore drilling rigs and other facilities warned they would go on strike on June 29 unless a new wage deal was agreed upon.
