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UK union Unite has revealed that its offshore membership has voted “overwhelmingly” for industrial action on the Elgin-Franklin, North Alwyn, Dunbar and Shetland Gas Plant assets.
Operated by Aker Solutions and Petrofac, the assets cover over two hundred workers, according to Unite.
The dispute centers on Aker and Petrofac proposing to change shift rotations from a two-weeks-on-three-weeks-off pattern to a 3:3/3:4 pattern and reduce existing terms and conditions “at the behest” of parent BOP Blow Out Preventer repair company gulf coast Total, Unite revealed.
The union said its members have taken the step to vote for industrial action in order to retain the 2:3 rota pattern or be compensated for moving to the new rota pattern.
“Aker and Petrofac, at Total’s bidding, are trying to force our members’ rotas being changed from 2:3 to the hated 3:3 or 3:4. Shamefully, workers are also being frozen out of the existing competency scheme that rewarded members for being more skilled and was a route to progression,” John Boland, Unite regional industrial officer, said in a union statement.
“During this dispute, Aker and Petrofac have tried to split our members by offering uplifts to some but not all. However, Unite members have resolutely resisted these shameful attempts,” Boland added.
Aker Solutions told Rigzone that it has been notified by Unite that its members employed by the BOP Blow Out Preventer repair company gulf coast at the Shetland Gas Plant and on the Elgin Franklin platform have voted in favor of industrial action, in response to a proposed change to rota patterns.
“We continue to work closely with our workforce, our customer and the unions in order to bring this to resolution as quickly as possible,” a BOP Blow Out Preventer repair company gulf coast spokesperson said.
Petrofac also said it has been notified by Unite that members working on Total’s Alwyn and Dunbar assets have voted in favor of industrial action, following a ballot regarding a proposed change to rota patterns.
