Updated: North Sea caterers advised to reject ‘insulting’ pay offer
Thousands of North Sea caterers are voting on a pay offer which union bosses have described as an “insult”.
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Ad hoc oil workers ‘months away from losing everything’ after missing out on furlough scheme
A trio of offshore unions are in disagreement with Petrofac after workers were left without answers on being granted the government’s coronavirus furlough scheme.
North Sea caterers overwhelmingly accept ‘improved’ pay offer
Offshore caterers have overwhelmingly accepted an "improved" pay offer from the sector's trade association, according to Unite workers union.
Unite and RMT accept pay offer for offshore caterers
Members of the Unite and RMT unions have accepted a pay offer from the Caterers Offshore Trade Association (COTA).
Offshore catering row rumbles on
Unions representing offshore catering staff are going back to the negotiating table.
North Sea caterers reject pay freeze
Offshore caterers have voted to reject the latest contract offer from North Sea employers.
EV Insights: Unions battle for the North Sea
This week union bosses said North Sea workers were “disenfranchised and getting angrier by the day”. At pay cuts and redundancies continue to dominate headlines, Energy Voice looks back at how the dialogue between employers and the unions has played out in the past year.
Caterers accept improved pay offer to avert strike action
Offshore caterers have agreed to accept an improved pay offer from the Catering Offshore Trade Association (COTA) averting strike action.
COTA says pay deal is “best that can be achieved”
Offshore caterers have said the pay offer made to workers is the best they can do, as the threat of a strike remains.
Gallery: North Sea industrial relations through the decades
With the immediate threat of industrial action by offshore catering workers put on hold as negotiations continue between employers and unions, Energy Voice looks back at the 1979 catering dispute that made headlines at the time.
Strike action put on hold by Unite after new offer from COTA
North Sea strike action by catering and auxiliary workers has been put on hold by Unite after a new offer from COTA (Caterers Offshore Trade Association). The decision comes after tentative talks were held last week between employers and members of Unite and RMT. A consultative ballot will now run as the new offer is put on the table for union members.
Talks to continue between COTA and unions
Talks between unions and COTA (Caterers Offshore Trade Association) will continue as both sides look to find a resolution and prevent a potential North Sea strike. RMT regional organiser Jake Molloy said discussions between representative from both unions and members of the industry body had been “constructive”. Both sides are currently locked in dispute after COTA said it would not be honouring the second year of a two-year pay deal.
Talks looming between COTA and unions
Talks between unions and COTA (Caterers Offshore Trade Association) will be held today in a bid to reach an agreement over potential strike action. Last month both Unite and RMT members were balloted on whether to take industrial action. Offshore catering and auxiliary workers are in dispute with COTA after it said it would not be honouring the second year of a pay deal worth around 1.3%.
RMT strike ballot result looming
The result of a ballot by RMT members over strike action in a pay dispute with COTA (Catering Offshore Trade Association) is expected today. The union ballot results comes after Unite members voted last week on whether to strike after members of COTA went back on a pay increase which had been part of a two-year deal.
Crunch talks to be held with Unions and COTA
Crunch talks will take place between unions and COTA (Catering Offshore Trade Association) in a bid to prevent the first North Sea strike in more than a generation. The body, which represents six catering companies working in the UKCS, has been in dispute with staff after it said it would not be honouring the second year of a pay deal worth around 1.3%. The talks will be held next week. Earlier this month 54.2% of Unite members voted for strike action while 62.&% voted for action short of a strike.
Union votes for strike action in pay dispute
Trade union members from Unite have voted in favour of strike action. The catering and auxillary staff have been in dispute with COTA (Catering Offshore Trade Association) over a pay freeze. The next move will be determined shortly, Unite said, in a short statement.
Video: Unite workers call for action in protest over North Sea pay
North Sea workers have urged their employers to enter into proper talks with staff as the result of a ballot on industrial action looms. Catering and auxillary staff plan to protest outside a number of offices across Aberdeen today after COTA (Catering Offshore Trade Association) said it wouldn't pay the second year of a deal which would see a 1.3% rise in wages. The body is made up of six companies – Aramark, Entier, ESS, FOSS & ESG, Sodexo and Trinity International Services – which supply catering and auxiliary services offshore.
Unite members to protest over North Sea pay dispute
Offshore catering staff are to protest at the offices across Aberdeen tomorrow over a pay dispute. Offshore catering staff are to protest at the offices across Aberdeen tomorrow over a pay dispute. Unite members will head to the premises of Entier, Aramark, Sodexo, ESS and Trinity following the cancellation of a two-year pay deal. Earlier this year COTA (Catering Offshore Trade Association) had said it wouldn’t pay the second year of the deal which would see a 1.3% rise in wages.
COTA urges employees to vote on strike action
The Caterers Offshore Trade Association (COTA) has called on employees to turn out and vote in ongoing industrial ballots before they close later this month. Both Unite and RMT unions opened their ballots asking members if they would be prepared to take strike action or action short of a strike after COTA companies decided to freeze pay. Earlier this year COTA had said it wouldn't pay the second year of a two-year deal which would see a 1.3% rise in wages.
Exclusive: Up to 500 jobs at risk across members of offshore catering association
Hundreds of jobs are at risk across six member companies of the Caterers Offshore Trade Association (COTA). The estimated figure was revealed as another union said it would ballot members over whether to take industrial action over a pay dispute. In a letter seen by Energy Voice the chairman of COTA and chief executive of Entier, one of the member companies, warns around 500 positions are being consulted on.
Offshore catering workers to vote on strike action
Offshore catering workers will forge ahead with plans to ballot workers on strike action. The move comes after workers claimed they had not received a 1.3% pay increase promised to them by employers. Earlier this month Unite said it would be having a vote on strike action over the pay dispute.
Union set to protest at Offshore Europe
Union members are poised to protest at Offshore Europe today. Unite the Union have planned the move following a dispute with offshore catering companies. Trade union bosses have accused offshore catering firms of "point blank"refusing to honour a 1.3% pay rise that had been agreed for the year.
Offshore caterers to vote on strike action over pay deal “U-turn”
Offshore caterers will vote on strike action after employers went back on a pay deal. Union bosses yesterday accused offshore catering companies of refusing “point blank” to honour a 1.3% pay raise that had been agreed for this year. The Unite union said the position held by the Catering Offshore Trade Association (COTA), which represents six offshore catering firms, had left it with no choice and advised its members to vote in favour of strike action.
MP intervenes to get caterers and unions talking again
Aberdeen South SNP MP Callum McCaig called on the Caterers Offshore Trade Association (Cota) to restart talks with unions over a staff pay deal. In April, Cota announced it was withdrawing its 2015/16 pay offer, worth around 2% and part of a two-year pay agreement. Unite and RMT remained “keen to engage” with the association, Mr McCaig said, adding he had written to Cota asking for a meeting with the unions as soon as possible.