Nearly 1,350 offshore oil and gas workers across five British energy giants announced plans to go on a strike demanding better jobs, pay and conditions.
Unite Scotland, the trade union, on 7 April made the announcement. Companies including BP, CNRI, EnQuest, Harbour Energy, Ithaca, Shell, and Total are expected to be hit by the strike.
The workers will participate in the 48-hour strike between 24 and 26 of this April. The strike will bring the platforms and offshore installations of the oil and gas operators to a standstill.
The other companies to be impacted by the strike include Bilfinger UK, Petrofac Facilities Management, Stork Technical Services, Sparrows Offshore Services, and Worley Services UK.
The workforce including electrical, production and mechanical technicians in addition to deck crew, scaffolders crane operators, pipefitters, platers, and riggers will participate in this strike.
As per the union, nearly 700 workers of Bilfinger have been demanding an increase above the base rate pay set the Energy Services Agreement (ESA) last year.
More than 360 Stork construction workers will also participate in the strike over working rotas and pay rates.
Nearly 50 workers of Petrofac Facilities Management plan to strike against over imposed clawback days.
Additionally, about 50 workers at Worley Services UK will also participate in the strike in a dispute which a base rate increase of £7 per hour and standby payments to be 12-hours full pay.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Oil and gas companies in the offshore sector are enjoying record windfall profits. There’s no question that contractors and operators can easily afford to give Unite members a decent pay rise. The scale of corporate greed in the offshore sector has to be challenged.
“1350 offshore workers will now take part in an unprecedented tsunami of industrial action over 48 hours with hundreds more set to join them. Unite will support all our members every step of the way in this fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”
