Backlash Mounts in the North Sea as Offshore Workers UNITE
Oil and Gas People has learned that workers on several platforms offshore are considering industrial action over pay and conditions.
The backlash is believed to have started on the Shearwater Platform on Friday.
Oil and Gas People has been informed by multiple sources offshore that those employees are meeting again early next week having all met Saturday and agreed to join UNITE the union. Anyone not a member of UNITE will join before the next meeting where a show of hands will be held. If 50% of members agree then all changes put forward by Wood Group to pay and conditions will be the subject of a ballot which in turn could lead to industrial action.
UNITE is the official union recognised by WGPSN. Oil and Gas People contacted Wood Group for a statement on this article but has had no response in over 24hours.
It is reported that Wood Group employees on several other shell installations are also going down the same route. With sources confirming that the Gannet, Brent Alpha and Brent Bravo are gearing up to take the same action.
Oil and Gas People has had unconfirmed reports of Internet going down on several other platforms as a backlash mounts in the North Sea.
The action comes directly on the back of a new round of cuts proposed by Wood Group. The third such cuts announcements Wood Group contractors have had in 12 months.
One worker involved in the action told website Socialist Worker, “We have started the ball rolling. We’ve come together and joined the union, which in this case is Unite as the recognised majority union in the company.
“The news has got out to other Shell platforms and the Gannet, Brent Alpha and Brent Bravo have now gone down the same route.”
In a letter to the Brent field workers, bosses told them that their terms and conditions were “unaligned with current and predicted market conditions”.
“As a consequence any supplementary payments and benefits,” the letter declared, were “to be removed with effect from June 18 2016.”
Those coordinating the action are urging everyone working Offshore to join UNITE so that offshore workers can make a stand together.
Oil and Gas People is asking that individuals offshore make contact with us in complete confidence to keep us updated as to the latest situation. news@oilandgaspeople.com
