Today marked the start of another 48 hours of industrial action in a dispute over pay and working conditions in the UK North Sea.
Unite the Union said 200 of its members working offshore for energy service firms Sparrows and Stork were downing tools.
What was previously described as a “tsunami” of industrial unrest is shrinking as more workers choose not to take part.
Smaller strikes and fewer firms
The number of employees downing tools has dropped since participation peaked at 1,650 in May.
Petrofac, Wood, Bilfinger, Stork and Sparrows were all involved at the start of the long-running dispute.
But the latest strike affects only Sparrows and “a small number” of Stork workers, Unite said.
A spokesman for the union added: “Unite can confirm its Sparrows members will continue industrial action over the coming days.
“A small number of Stork members will take action today.
“In relation to Bilfinger and the vast majority of our Stork members working offshore, they will not now be participating in this latest round of strike action due to developments with these companies and the assets they work on.”
The workers who are downing tools are on Apache assets – Forties and the Beryl field – and the Anasuria floating production storage and offloading vessel.
Stork said: “We remain focused on engaging with our employees, clients and the unions to bring the ongoing grievances to a timely resolution that protects and sustains employment opportunities, supports safety and operational continuity.
“This continues to be our priority.”
Bilfinger has not yet commented on any offers given to its staff.
Union says ‘movie star wages’ untrue
March saw the first wave of strike action this year as 1,400 workers downed tools. Numbers fluctuated as more industrial action took place over the following months.
In April, Unite regional officer Vic Fraser said conditions and rates of pay for offshore workers had “eroded” in recent years. This was in start contrast to a commonly held belief they are paid “movie star wages”, he added.
Mr Fraser continued: “Over the last decade terms and conditions have stagnated and eroded and they have had enough.
“Our members are looking for an increase in their basic rate of pay, an improved rota and a return to some of the terms and conditions they have lost over the last 10 years.”
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