Fresh rounds of 48-hour action to hit multibillion corporations including BP, Shell and Total

Unite the union confirms that around 1650 contractors will begin two new rounds of 48-hour strike action in an increasingly bitter dispute over jobs, pay and conditions in the offshore sector.

Around 1650 contractors across five companies will now participate in strike action starting on 1 June (6.30am) and ending on 3 June (6.29am), and then from 8 June (6.30am) to 10 June (6.29am).

The prospective action includes electrical, production and mechanical technicians in addition to deck crew, scaffolders, crane operators, pipefitters, platers, and riggers working for Bilfinger UK Limited, Stork Technical Services, and Sparrows Offshore Services.

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: 
“With the support of their union Unite, an army of 1650 offshore workers are taking the fight to multibillion oil and gas corporations. The latest rounds of strike action in June will see the biggest group of offshore workers to date taking strike action. 

Unfettered corporate profiteering at the expense of our members will not go unchallenged. Unite is determined to deliver better jobs, pay and conditions in the offshore sector, and deliver we will.”

The latest 48-hour strike action will hit multibillion oil and gas operators including Apache, BP, Harbour Energy, Enquest, Ithaca, Repsol, Shell and TAQA. It follows previous rounds of strike action in April and May.

Last week, Unite announced that around 600 Bilfinger contractors on Ithaca, CNRI and TAQA assets rejected new pay offers. The trade union confirmed that the workers would participate in 48-hour stoppages along with 200 Bilfinger contractors working on BP and Repsol assets. Around 650 Stork offshore members will join the stoppages in June along with 200 offshore workers employed by Sparrows.

John Boland, Unite industrial officer, added: 
“Unite’s members deserve a much bigger share of the bonanza profits being recorded by oil and gas operators than the real terms pay cuts currently being offered. Around 1650 members across the companies we are in dispute with remain determined, and fully focused on securing a better deal.

Whether it is over delivering improved pay, fairer and safer working rotas or holidays, Unite has one simple message for the contractors and operators: we will stand up for our members, we hold you to account, and in the end we will win.”

Historic profits have recently been recorded by BP and Shell, who made a combined profit in the first quarter of 2023 touching £11.7 billion. A Unite Investigates’ report released this week reveals that companies made £45 billion profit from the UK domestic energy system in 2022. If that money had been kept in public hands, it could have been used to save each household £1,800 on their energy bills.

KeyFacts Energy news: North Sea Focus