Industry body Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) has commented on strike action recently confirmed by the Unite union.
“We are aware of this industrial action and would encourage all parties to work together to find constructive ways to address the concerns of the workforce,” Irene Bruce, OEUK’s energy services manager, told Rigzone.
“Workers across all sectors of the UK are feeling the impact of the cost of living crisis, but industrial action does not offer a solution or help our sector, which is doing everything it can to attract the essential investment to protect jobs and meet the UK’s energy needs,” added Bruce.
“While some offshore staff levels will be reduced, the companies are focused on maintaining safe operations for our people and ensuring continuity of production to maintain energy security in the UK,” Bruce said.
On Friday, Unite confirmed 1,300 offshore workers would begin a 48-hour strike from April 24, which it warned will “cause ‘severe’ problems for major oil and gas operators”.
In a statement posted on its site, Unite said the 48-hour strike action will affect “multi-million oil and gas operators, including BP, CNRI, EnQuest, Harbour, Ithaca, Shell, TAQA and Total”. It has been highlighted that the action includes electrical, production and mechanical technicians, as well as deck crew, scaffolders, crane operators, pipe fitters, platers and fitters working for Bilfinger UK Limited, Petrofac Facilities Management, Stork Technical Services and Sparrows Offshore Services.
Unite said in the statement that it predicts its “unprecedented” strike action “could lead to production stoppages due to the specialist work carried out by its members on offshore platforms and assets”.
“An army of 1,300 workers will participate in the largest offshore shutdown in a generation,” United Industrial official John Boland said in the statement Friday.
“The 48-hour strike action will cause serious problems to contractors and operators,” he added.
In Friday’s statement, Unite highlighted that it recently confirmed that around 70 offshore workers employed by TotalEnergies on the Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn platforms, along with the Shetland gas plant, are being voted on strike. Polls close on May 5, the union said.
In addition, Unite noted in the statement that it has strike mandates at Petrofac BP covering around 100 members and more than 80 members employed by Wood Group on TAQA assets. No strike dates have been announced in relation to these disputes, the union has revealed. Unite also noted in the statement that it has a new strike mandate at Worley Services UK Limited with 50 members, but said the action has been suspended while talks with the company continue.
In a gas and LNG market update sent to Rigzone on April 20, Rystad Energy senior analyst Nikoline Bromander noted that in Norway last week, “26,000 Norwegian workers in private industry went on strike,” but said in the update that “concern is limited.”
“Even if the conflict escalates, it is unlikely that Norwegian production will be unaffected as the government has the power to intervene to end labor disputes,” Bromander said in the update.
To contact the author, please send an email andreas.exarcheas@rigzone.com
