Union fury at move to scrap key North Sea workforce agreement

Offshore trade unions have condemned contractors’ plans to abandon a key UK North Sea collective bargaining agreement.

GMB, Unite and RMT today confirmed that employers intend to terminate the Offshore Contractors Partnership Agreement (OCPA) on June 30, 2020.

The trio said the move was at odds with the principles being promoted by the industry and regulators.

The decision essentially spells the end for the Offshore Contractors’ Association (OCA), whose members include Aker Solutions, Petrofac, Stork and Wood.

Set up in 1995, the OCA negotiates with trade unions on workers’ terms and conditions on behalf of member companies.

The association was undermined in 2016, when Bilfinger Salamis left the group. Sparrows Group followed suit last year.

Unions said oil and gas production companies awarding major contracts to contractors out with the OCA was one of the main reasons for the impending break-up.

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