The Unite union has confirmed that around 1,650 contractors will start two new rounds of 48-hour strike action in June.
Across five companies, contractors will participate in a strike from June 1, at 6:30 a.m. local time, until June 3, at 6:29 a.m., and from June 8 to June 10 at same hours, Unite revealed in a statement published on its website. .
The prospective action includes electrical, production and mechanical technicians, as well as deck crew, scaffolders, crane operators, pipefitters, platers and riggers working for Bilfinger UK Limited, Stork Technical Services and Sparrows Offshore Services, Unite noted.
The union said in the statement that the latest 48-hour strike action will affect multibillion-dollar oil and gas operators, including Apache, BP, Harbor Energy, Enquest, Ithaca, Repsol, Shell and TAQA.
“Backed by their Unite union, an army of 1,650 offshore workers are fighting back against multibillion-dollar oil and gas corporations,” Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said in a union statement.
“The final rounds of strikes in June will see the largest group of offshore workers yet strike,” added Graham.
“Unite is determined to deliver better jobs, wages and conditions to the offshore sector, and we will,” continued Graham.
Unite Industrial officer John Boland said: “Unite members deserve a much bigger share of the bonanza profits being made by oil and gas operators than the real terms pay cuts currently on offer “.
“Around 1,650 members of the companies we are in dispute with remain determined and fully focused on getting a better deal,” he added.
“Unite has a simple message for contractors and operators: we will stand up for our members, hold you to account and in the end win,” Boland added.
Rigzone has contacted industry body Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) for comment on Unite’s latest strike statement. At the time of writing, OEUK has not yet sent a statement to Rigzone to comment on the upcoming strikes.
In a separate statement posted on its site last week, Unite announced that around 600 Bilfinger contractors from the Ithaca, CNRI and TAQA assets had rejected new pay offers. In that statement, Unite revealed that workers would take part in June’s 48-hour stoppages, along with 200 Bilfinger contractors working on BP and Repsol assets.
This statement included a list of offshore facilities potentially affected by any strike action. The following facilities have been mentioned in the list:
- North Dawn
- Andrew
- Arbroath
- MONTH
- Bleoholm
- Bra Alpha
- FPSO Captain
- Captain WPP,
- Clair,
- Clair Ridge,
- Claymore,
- Clyde,
- Cormorant
- alpha,
- East Brae,
- Eider,
- stage,
- FPF1,
- Fulmar,
- Glen Lyon,
- Harding,
- Leman Alfa,
- montrose,
- Ninian Central,
- Ninian South,
- northern cormorant,
- Piper Bravo,
- seafox 4,
- Sean Pope,
- Sole Pit Clipper,
- Tartan Alpha,
- Alpha Tern,
In April, Unite revealed that 1,300 offshore workers would begin a 48-hour strike from 24 April. In a union statement at the time, Unite noted the 48-hour strike action would affect multibillionaire oil and gas operators, including BP, CNRI, EnQuest, Harbour, Ithaca, Shell, TAQA and Total.
In May, Unite announced that around 1,200 contractors would resume a 48-hour strike from May 10 to 12.
Commenting on the strike action earlier this month, Irene Bruce, OEUK’s energy services agreement manager, told Rigzone: “… we would encourage all parties to work together to find constructive ways address workforce concerns.”
“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, nor is it helpful for 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,” the OEUK representative continued .
Based in London, the Unite union is active in all sectors of the economy, according to its website. Earlier this week, the union announced further National Health Service strikes in London and Yorkshire.
To contact the author, please send an email andreas.exarcheas@rigzone.com
