Exclusive: Over a third of North Sea workers too heavy for lifeboats
‘Angst’ as new HSE data finds 36% of UK offshore workers now above 100kg maximum weight threshold.
RMT
Tory immigration proposals pose ‘very real impact’ for energy labour market
Only three of the top 10 most popular energy roles typically filled by overseas recruits have an average salary above the proposed new minimum threshold.
‘Nationalise it’: Unions lament Grangemouth refinery plans as ‘kick in the teeth’
Union leaders slammed plans to cease operations at Grangemouth’s crude refinery and called for nationalisation, while just transition campaigners called for a ‘credible plan’ to protect workers.
Exclusive: Outcry as wind body creates ‘roadblock’ to oil worker skills passport
Union bosses call on Global Wind Organisation (GWO) to change tack, lest government is asked to intervene.
RMT union boss Jake Molloy steps down
The 63-year-old hopes to spend more time with the grandkids - and even do a spot of fishing. He's replaced by Ann Joss as RMT regional organiser.
Mick Lynch: ‘Real risk’ NRB practices will jeopardise energy transition
The head of the RMT union says a wave of strike action set to hit the North Sea will be a major test for industrial relations as it looks to protect members from potential discrimination.
Campaigners demand reform as ‘majority’ of offshore workers face limited whistleblowing protections
Unions and campaign groups have called for an overhaul of whistleblowing legislation to close loopholes which mean many offshore workers receive next to no legal safeguards when raising alarms.
Offshore sector accused of ‘rampant exploitation’ as seafarers miss out on wage increase
Maritime union RMT accused the government of failing to address “loopholes” which mean thousands of seafarers will be ineligible for minimum wage rises.
HSE issues ‘safety alert’ amid fears missing worker fell through hole on oil rig deck
There are concerns that other North Sea rigs could have the same issue as the Valaris 121, where 50-year-old Jason Thomas went missing in January.
Offshore worker report claims ‘culture of fear’ as barrier to North Sea transition
The study states that the promised boom in offshore wind and renewables cannot be modelled “in the broken image of the oil industry.”
Welcome to the North Sea gig economy
The erosion of the rights and pay of North Sea energy industry workers appear to have taken a further turn for the worse amid the gig economy.
‘Dangerous and damaging’: Six-tonne North Sea oil spill in marine area
A North Sea operator has been slammed for the “dangerous and damaging” release of tonnes of oil into a marine protected area in the UK.
‘Staggering situation’ as UK regulators not investigating North Sea rig incident
A North Sea union boss has called out the “staggering situation” whereby UK regulators are not investigating Sunday’s offshore rig incident when a worker went missing.
Political will more important than goodwill this festive season
When asked to put together my reflections of the year gone and predictions for the year to come, I felt depressed. The line, “you couldn’t make this up” was foremost in my mind - no festive cheer I’m afraid, it is a depressing picture.
Unresolved maintenance backlogs spur fears about potential disaster that could be ‘curtains’ for North Sea
North Sea operators are being warned they are running a “terrible risk” not dealing with offshore maintenance backlogs.
‘It’s not rocket science’: Workers have their say on 3/3 offshore rotas and skills shortage
Scrapping unpopular “three on, three off” rota patterns will not solve the North Sea skills shortage alone, according to offshore workers.
Ditching three on, three off rotas can ease North Sea skills shortage, says union boss
Doing away with hated shift patterns has been mooted as one way to help alleviate North Sea worker shortages.
The Energy Voice guide to North Sea strike action
Spiralling living costs coupled with record profits for energy producers have fuelled a series of increasingly bitter disputes between operators and workers throughout 2022.
Exclusive: World’s worst greenhouse gas escapes from giant Scottish wind farm
Workers were forced to evacuate from a transformer platform in the giant £3billion Seagreen wind farm 27 miles off Scotland’s Angus coastline, following an escape of “the most potent greenhouse gas” in the world.
‘The OIL Machine’: Film on North Sea industry to hit cinemas ahead of COP27
A film spotlighting the “economic, historical and emotional entanglement” of the North Sea oil and gas industry will hit UK cinemas today (Nov 4) – days before COP27.
Orsted workers protest ‘paltry pay offer’ outside Danish embassy in London
Offshore wind workers have taken to the streets after receiving a “paltry pay offer” from one of the world’s largest green energy firms.
Updated: COTA laments rejection of ‘unprecedented’ pay offer by North Sea catering staff
The Catering Offshore Trade Association (COTA) says it is "extremely disappointed" offshore caterers voted to snub its latest pay offer.
Unions, contractors decry ‘smash and grab’ wildcat strikes planned across North Sea
Offshore contractors and union representatives warned against the prospect of “unlawful” strike action this week, as workers prepare to down tools in a bid for pay uplifts in the face of rising cost of living.
40 years of HSE: RMT’s Molloy runs the rule on North Sea safety
Jake Molloy of RMT has been a part of the North Sea story for more than four decades; always on or directly involved with its shop floor.
HSE slams TotalEnergies over fire and explosion risk on Gryphon FPSO
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned TotalEnergies over a series of failures in its maintenance processes on the Gryphon Alpha, leading to risks of “fire and explosion”.