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Union chief denies North Sea strikes are winding down

More industrial action in the pipeline in disputes over pay and conditions offshore.

A worker looks out at BP's Etap platform in the North Sea.
A worker looks out at BP's Etap platform in the North Sea. Image: BP

A union boss has poured cold water on optimism that an end to industrial unrest in the North Sea may be in sight.

According to John Boland, of Unite, there is “a lot of stuff still going in the background”, with numerous strike ballots covering scores of workers in the pipeline.

And while there is a degree of “fatigue” amongst the workforce, “members are still willing” to down tools in an attempt to secure better pay and conditions, he added.

There has been cautious optimism a line is starting to be drawn under the unrest – billed as a “tsunami” earlier this year – that has gripped the North Sea for much of 2023.

Last week more than 700 striking Bilfinger employees accepted an improved pay offer, drastically cutting the number of workers involved in offshore disputes.

Not out of the woods yet

But Mr Boland insisted there are hundreds more workers, across separate disputes, still willing to take action.

He added: “Stork members have had an offer put to them, as have Petrofac workers on BP assets – both of those have gone to a consultative ballot.

north sea strikes
John Boland, right, alongside striking Unite members outside Petrofac’s Aberdeen office earlier this year.

“There are a number of other disputes that are ongoing – we’ve got one with Petrofac on Ithaca Energy’s FPF-1 asset – and strike dates have been put in there. On Ithaca’s other two assets, Captain and Alba, we’re preparing to go to an industrial action ballot for them as well.

“Although these other clashes are smaller, they’ll have no less of an impact on operators. A consultative ballot is ongoing with Petrofac members on EnQuest (installations) and there are strike dates for Wood with Taqa. There are other things coming up as well.

Ithaca Energy’s FPF-1 production vessel.
Ithaca Energy’s FPF-1 production vessel. Image: Petrofac

“We’ve still got a strike mandate for Worley workers on Harbour Energy platforms that we’ve not moved forward with yet because we’ve been waiting to see was happening there. There is also ongoing collective grievances with Wood on Shell assets, as well as Ponticelli and Semco Maritime on TotalEnergies assets. There’s a lot of stuff still going on in the background.”

Workers losing ‘a lot of money’

Fanning the flames of industrial discontent have been the bumper profits reported by a number of oil and gas majors in the past year.

Walkouts have been commonplace in the North Sea for months as workers try to secure better pay in order to offset the UK’s cost-of-living crisis.

It is not without sacrifice though, with strikers having to give up their wage for time not worked – something Mr Boland believes is taking its toll.

north sea strikes
Striking workers in the North Sea, pictured in April.

He said: “It’s having a big hit on them, there’s no doubt about that, and it’s hard because sometimes the motivation does go. The industrial action involving Petrofac workers on BP assets started in November and it is still going on, so there is fatigue.

“But members are still willing to do it, and the fact workers are willing to lose a lot of money by doing this shows how strongly they feel.”

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