OFFSHORE workers are going on strike in a dispute over pay.
Unite Scotland said its members on the Petrofac-owned Repsol rigs are taking part in continuous overtime ban and 48-hour stoppage on Wednesday and Thursday.
The union said the dispute centres on the removal of a 10% equal time payment and claims that Petrofac management reneged on a commitment to review benefits in 2020 when it blamed cuts on the downturn in oil and gas prices.
It balloted members for industrial action after they rejected a 3% pay offer.
READ MORE: UK inflation hits 41-year high following surge in energy prices
Unite has demanded that the 10% cut be reversed, with pay increases reflecting inflationary costs, and that the company fulfils its obligation to review the other payments.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s members at Petrofac’s Repsol assets have had enough.
“This organisation fails to realise that our members are resolute and determined to make sure the promise made back in 2020 to review the pay and benefits is fulfilled and will continue with action until it is.
“Unite is 100% with our Petrofac workers in seeking their demands for improvements on pay and benefits.”
Around 146 members, including deck crew, pipe fitters, riggers and safety technicians are involved in the action at 11 locations.
A further 48-hour stoppage will take place on November 30 and December 1.
READ MORE: Scottish women are at greater risk of destitution, report finds
Unite regional officer John Boland said: “Unite’s members are due a decent pay rise after years of below-inflation increases and they accepted the word of their employer that they would uphold a commitment to do just that.
“However Petrofac have shown their true colours and broken their word and my members will no longer accept jam tomorrow.”
A Petrofac spokesperson said: "We continue to work closely with our teams and our client to ensure there is no increased risk to safety during periods of industrial action.
"Through regular reviews of the remuneration of our offshore workforce, we ensure fair compensation aligned with the market.
"Our latest review resulted in enhancements, including: a salary increase and commitment to an additional increase in January 2023, an equal time allowance and increased additional and training day payments."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel