Around 70 offshore workers employed by TotalEnergies are being balloted on strike action, Unite the union has confirmed.
Unite members based on the Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn platforms, along with the Shetland Gas Plant, are being balloted on strike action as part of what is being described as a ‘tsunami’ of industrial unrest in the offshore sector.
The latest dispute centres on the pay claim for 2023, and a reduction in the days worked offshore. The ballot covering Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn is currently open, while the ballot covering the Shetland Gas Plant opens on April 19. Both ballots close on May 5.
TotalEnergies workers are on different shift rotations either three weeks on, and three weeks or four weeks off. Despite meetings with TotalEnergies management, the company has refused to discuss with Unite a reduction in days worked or a change of rotation.
John Boland, Unite industrial officer, said: “Unite’s members employed by TotalEnergies across the Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn platforms, and the Shetland Gas Plant are joining an army of offshore workers saying enough is enough.
“If the TotalEnergies workforce support strike action then it will undoubtedly have a significant impact on oil and gas production across the company’s assets.”
Unite announced last week that 1350 offshore workers across five companies will take two days of strike action starting on April 24. The union said the coordinated strike action will bring platforms and the offshore installations of major oil and gas operators to a ‘standstill’.
