UK Offshore Strike Looms (Update 2)
(Adds comments from Petrofac, Aker Solutions at end)
Members of UK trade union Unite voted to approve industrial action on the French Total-owned Elgin-Franklin, Shetland Gas Plant, North Alwyn and Dunbar platforms February 22. The platforms utilise over two hundred workers.
Unite members on the Elgin-Franklin platform voted by 88.2% for industrial action; Shetland Gas Plant by 95.1% and North Alwyn and Dunbar platforms by 93.9%.
The dispute centres on proposals from operators Aker and Petrofac to change the shift rotation, from 2:3 to a 3:3/3:4 rotation, and to reduce existing terms and conditions at the behest of parent company Total. Unite wants to retain the 2:3 rota or be compensated for moving to the new rota. Workers have also been frozen out of the existing competency scheme, which means that different rates will be paid for the same job.
Unite's regional industrial officer John Boland said: "Aker and Petrofac, at Total's bidding, are trying to force our members' rotas being changed from 2:3 to the hated 3:3 or 3:4. Shamefully, workers are also being frozen out of the existing competency scheme that rewarded members for being more skilled and was a route to progression."
He said that Aker and Petrofac have tried to split the members by selectively offering uplifts, but that this tactic had failed. "The resounding votes across all three platforms demonstrates clearly that our members not only want to stay on their existing rota, but if they have to change they want fair compensation, and to retain the existing competency scheme," he said.
Aker Solutions told NGW: "“Aker Solutions has been notified by Unite the Union that its members employed by Aker Solutions at the Shetland Gas Plant and on the Elgin Franklin Platform have voted in favour of industrial action, in response to a proposed change to rota pattern. We continue to work closely with our workforce, our customer and the unions in order to bring this to resolution as quickly as possible.”
Petrofac told NGW: "Petrofac has been notified by Unite the Union that members working on Total’s Alwyn and Dunbar assets have voted in favour of industrial action, following a ballot regarding a proposed change to rota patterns." It added that if a strike were called, the operator would have two weeks' warning.
Total could not be reached immediately for comment.