Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn platforms at risk of major disruption

Unite the union announced today that offshore workers employed by TotalEnergies are being balloted for strike action.

Around 50 Unite members based on the Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn platforms are involved in an escalating dispute after the overwhelming rejection of an unacceptable pay offer.

The dispute centres on the pay claim for 2025 which should take effect from 1 January. TotalEnergies originally offered a 1.5 per cent basic salary increase, which after being overwhelmingly rejected by the workers, was minimally increased to 1.75 per cent. The latest offer which also amounts to a real terms pay cut was similarly rejected.

The ballot covering the Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn platforms opens on 29 April and closes on 2 June.

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: 
“TotalEnergies has posted multi-billion-pound profits year after year, yet it is trying to impose a real terms pay cut. This is shameful behaviour from an extraordinarily profitable company. Unite will back our members all the way in the fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”

Unite’s members undertake a number of roles on TotalEnergies platforms including skilled engineers, control room and senior operators along with mechanical, operation and production technicians.

The French oil giant in its latest financial statement posted full-year 2024 adjusted net income of $18.3 billion (USD) with a cash flow of $29.9 billion.

John Boland, Unite industrial officer, said: 
“Unite’s members employed by TotalEnergies across the Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn platforms are being forced to ballot on strike action to get a fair pay award from a multi-billion company.

“TotalEnergies is treating its highly skilled workforce with contempt and Unite is determined to hold it to account. The company should be under no illusions that if our members take strike action it will cause major disruption to the operations on both platforms.”