Industry body Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) has commented on the strike action confirmed recently by the Unite union.
“We are aware of this industrial action and would encourage all parties to work together to find constructive ways to address workforce concerns,” Irene Bruce, OEUK’s Energy Services Manager, told Rigzone.
‘Industrial action does not offer a solution’.
“Workers in all sectors across the UK are feeling the impact of the cost of living crisis, however industrial action does not offer a solution, nor is it helpful for our sector, which is doing all it can to attract the investment essential to protect jobs and meet the UK’s energy needs,” Bruce added.
“While some offshore staffing levels will be reduced, companies are focused on maintaining safe operations for our people and on ensuring continuity of production to maintain energy security for the UK,” Bruce went on to state.
On Friday, Unite confirmed that 1,300 offshore workers would begin a 48-hour stoppage from April 24, which it warned “will cause ‘severe’ problems for major oil and gas operators”.
In a statement posted on its site, Unite said the 48-hour strike action will hit “multibillion oil and gas operators including BP, CNRI, EnQuest, Harbour, Ithaca, Shell, TAQA and Total”. It outlined that the action includes electrical, production and mechanical technicians in addition to deck crew, scaffolders, crane operators, pipefitters, platers, and riggers working for Bilfinger UK Limited, Petrofac Facilities Management, Stork Technical Services, and Sparrows Offshore Services.
Unite noted in the statement that it predicts its “unprecedented” strike action “could result in production shutdowns due to the specialized work its members undertake on offshore platforms and assets”.
“An army of 1,300 workers will take part in the biggest offshore stoppage in a generation,” Unite Industrial Officer John Boland said in the statement on Friday.
“The 48-hour strike action will cause severe problems for contractors and operators,” he added.
In the Friday statement, Unite highlighted that it recently confirmed that around 70 offshore workers employed by TotalEnergies on the Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn platforms, along with the Shetland Gas Plant, are being balloted on strike action. The ballots close on May 5, the union said.
Additionally, Unite noted in the statement that it has strike mandates at Petrofac BP covering around 100 members, and over 80 members employed by the Wood Group on TAQA assets. No strike dates have been announced in relation to these disputes, the union revealed. Unite also pointed out in the statement that it has a further strike mandate at Worley Services UK Limited involving 50 members but said action has been suspended while talks continue with the company.
In a gas and LNG market update sent to Rigzone on April 20, Rystad Energy Senior Analyst Nikoline Bromander highlighted that, in Norway last week, “26,000 Norwegian private industry workers went on strike” but said in the update that “concern is limited”.
“Even as the conflict escalates, Norwegian production is unlikely to be unaffected, as the government has the power to intervene to end industrial disputes,” Bromander said in the update.
To contact the author, email andreas.exarheas@rigzone.com
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Read More: Industry Body Comments on UK Oil Strike