North Sea helicopter crash: UK union bosses call for inquiry into offshore safety
Union bosses today called on the UK Government to revisit its decision to refuse a public inquiry into offshore helicopter safety.
Unite
Unite says Wood Group rate cuts deepen “race to the bottom” in North Sea
Unite, the UK's biggest offshore trade union, warned the Wood Group's contractor rate cuts will deepen a “race to the bottom” on North Sea employment standards.
Offshore union warns of long-term damage to oil and gas industry
Offshore union RMT has warned of long-term damage to Britain’s energy industry after BP posted its largest annual loss for 20 years and revealed another 3,000 job losses as it continued to hack back on budgets in the face of global turmoil.
Union dispute ends after year-long negotiations
Fears over a strike in the North Sea by oil workers have been halted after negotiations between the Offshore Contractors’ Association and unions paid off. More than half of members balloted from Unite agreed to the latest offer from the members companies, including Wood Group PSN and Amec Foster Wheeler.
EV Insights: Long-running North Sea dispute settled
Energy Voice examines some of the key points in the lengthy dispute between the Offshore Contractors Association and Unite union.
OCA: Extremely challenging time for sector, but union vote allows us to move forward
The OCA's (Offshore Contractors Association) chief executive Bill Murray said a vote by unions in favour of an offer would allow companies and employees to "move forward" after a year-long dispute.
Updated:Union ends strike fears by accepting OCA offer
Unite workers have voted to accept improved holiday entitlement and a joint review of "three on, three off" from by more than 50% of those balloted.
Union vote set to close on OCA ballot
A ballot on whether North Sea workers should accept new conditions put forward by member companies of the OCA (Offshore Contractors Association) will close tomorrow. It comes after revised proposals were put forward after talks were held with Unite, the OCA and ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service).
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.
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 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%.
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.
Offshore unions backed by TUC
The TUC has backed a motion calling for a concerted campaign to resist "commercial pressures" that offshore unions say could erode safety standards, cut jobs and training.
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.
Unite members playing “dangerous game” with strike threat
Offshore members of the Unite union have been warned they are playing a dangerous game if they vote for strike action over pay and conditions.
Unite seeks U-turn on North Sea ‘copters decision
The Unite union has called on the UK Government to “urgently revisit” the recommendation of the previous parliament’s transport select committee for a public inquiry into offshore helicopter safety.
GMB urges Unite and OCA to agree offshore worker pay deal
The GMB trade union has urged its counterpart, Unite, and North Sea industry chiefs to return to the negotiating table and hammer out a pay deal for offshore workers. The appeal follows yesterday’s announcement from GMB that its offshore members had voted to accept the same offer from employers that Unite members rejected last week. It is understood there was a clear majority from GMB in favour of accepting the offer from the Offshore Contractors Association (OCA), which has 10 full members including Petrofac, Wood Group PSN and Stork.
Unions reject OCA proposals over offshore working conditions
Unions have rejected proposals offered by the Offshore Contractors Association (OCA) for North Sea workers in a move which could increase the chance on industrial action in the North Sea. Both GMB and Unite were balloted on whether to accept a new deal put on the table last month. The result of the ballot from Unite members was 63.5% against and 36.5% in favour. It is understood the union will be consulting with members in coming days following the decision. It is understood GMB voted in favour of the proposals but as the union had fewer members balloted their vote has been outweighed by Unite. The OCA's chief executive Bill Murray said it was "extremely disappointed" by the move.
Decision day looms for balloted union workers in OCA negotiations
A decision by union members over whether to accept an offer of proposals from the Offshore Contractors Association (OCA) will be made today. Both Unite and GMB workers will vote yes or no after months of talks between representatives from both sides. It comes after the GMB union wrote to members last month and urged them to accept a new offer from the OCA, which has 10 full members, including Petrofac, Wood Group PSN and Stork.
GMB and Unite urge government to help bring oil jobs to Stornoway
Unions have called on the Scottish Government to support a manufacturing yard in Stornoway at risk of being mothballed. The GMB and Unite have written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon asking for support to attract contracts to the Arnish yard. The fabrication yard is operated by Burntisland Fabrications (BiFab), which also operates two yards in Fife.
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.