Unite Plans Next Strike, Calls for Talks
The trade union Unite has called for urgent talks with energy company Wood Group in order to avert further strike action in the North Sea. The planned strike would affect maintenance work on seven of Anglo-Dutch major Shell's platforms.
The union confirmed August 9 further strike action on August 15, on the grounds that they faced cuts in pay and allowances of up to 30%. Hundreds of Unite's members first went on a 24-hour strike on July 26, followed by a 48-hour stoppage the following week.
RMT union members will be asked to stop work on different platforms on different days between August 15 and September 3, the BBC reported.
Wood Group however says the company is not doing anything wrong. CEO Dave Stewart, expressing his company’s “huge disappointment”, said late July: “None of our employees are being offered terms and conditions below the Offshore Partnership Agreement, agreed by the unions only this year; nor will they be. The majority of our employees will still be paid significantly above these terms and conditions.
Shell's Brent platform
“Safeguarding these jobs in the North Sea now and in the future against the backdrop of an extremely challenging economic climate, remains our firm commitment. It is estimated that 120,000 jobs will be lost in the UK by the end of 2016 due to the prolonged low oil price.
"We believe safeguarding jobs should be a mutual goal shared by the unions and we would encourage them to work with us to realign the cost base, if we are to sustain this mature industry and employment opportunities long into the future. There is a responsibility on all of us in this industry to create a competitive cost base in line with the Oil and Gas Authority's strategy for maximising economic recovery."
Unite regional officer John Boland said Wood Group needed to "start taking this dispute seriously. No-one takes industrial action lightly, but our members are staying united in the face of this unwarranted attack on their pay and conditions. These further strike dates show their determination."
William Powell