A 48-hour strike has started in the UK North Sea by offshore workers working for Wood Group on Shell platforms.
The strike, on the Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Nelson, Gannet, Shearwater and Curlew platforms, follows a 24-hour walk out by workers from the Unite and RMT unions on Tuesday 26 July.
The action is the first in 28 years and is over a dispute over 30% pay cuts and changes to allowances, says the Unite and RMT unions.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: "The action on the Wood Group Shell assets is solid as a rock again this morning. After savage redundancies and attacks on workload and working conditions this group of offshore workers have been told that they are going to be railroaded into accepting pay cuts of up to 30%. They have chosen not to bend the knee, they have chosen to stand up and fight."
A spokesperson for Shell said the industrial action was "deeply disappointing." "The UK oil and gas industry is facing an unprecedented challenge with the lower oil price environment and structural change is needed if the North Sea is to remain competitive.
"Shell's priority is to ensure the safety of all personnel and assets during this period of industrial action. We would encourage Wood Group management and employees to continue in their discussions so that a resolution may be reached which halts this industrial action."
Dave Stewart, CEO for Wood Group’s eastern region business unit said: “We are hugely disappointed that industrial action is progressing despite the significant movements made and what we believed was constructive, continued engagement with the unions over the weekend and on Monday.
“We had agreed to suspend the implementation of the terms and conditions currently proposed to enable further detailed discussions with our employees and the unions. We believed the unions had also agreed to this during our meeting on Monday, which was attended by union representatives, shop stewards and Wood Group management. We were extremely disappointed by the last minute change to what we feel was a very constructive way forward and are actively seeking clarity on why this decision was taken.
“We have urged the unions to show willingness to reengage with us with a clear objective of reaching a resolution that safeguards employment opportunities for our employees, both now and in the future.
“The safety and wellbeing of our employees remains our top priority and our commitment is to ensuring this is not compromised by this extended period of industrial action.”
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UK North Sea strike action starts
Image: Shell Brent field from Shell.
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