News

A 48-hour strike by North Sea offshore oil and gas workers starts today (Thursday 4 August), after company managers rejected an offer from trade unions. 

Workers in the trade unions Unite and RMT are going ahead with the planned stoppage as part of an ongoing dispute with employers Wood Group. The workers are facing a massive cut in pay and allowances of up to 30 per cent. UNI Global Union stands in solidarity with these workers and calls for the company to meet their fair and equitable demands in full.

In last-minute meetings this week, unions had offered to suspend the strike if the company agreed to remove their current proposal in full to allow for further consultation and negotiation. The company refused. 

Unite regional officer John Boland said: “We are extremely disappointed that Wood Group has decided to continue its attack on the pay and allowances of offshore workers. We repeat our call for proper consultation and negotiation. 

"Industrial action is always a last resort and throughout this dispute we have constructively sought to find a resolution. We need to look forward and work towards a sustainable solution. 

“Offshore workers do a difficult, dangerous job and we all rely on the energy they produce. We need Wood Group and other energy companies to stop constantly attacking these workers, and move on to a more positive agenda, working with the unions to address the challenges facing the industry."

As part of the dispute, Unite organised a 24-hour stoppage on Tuesday 26 July, followed by a series of three-hour stoppages on platforms owned by multi-national oil company Shell. The Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Nelson, Gannet, Shearwater and Curlew platforms were all affected.  

During the dispute the striking workers have received declarations of support from trade unionists across the globe, including those working in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. There have also been demonstrations at Wood Group's Aberdeen headquarters. 

ENDS

For further information, for interview, or to arrange a photo / filming opportunity, contact John Boland on 07918 630435 or 01224 6455271. 

Notes to editors:

Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest trade union with over 1.4 million members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Len McCluskey.

- See more at: http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/48-hour-offshore-strike-goes-ahead-as-...