Unite has announced a series of North Sea strikes will begin next month for Petrofac and Aker Solutions workers in defiance to plans to change rotas. Last week union members voted to strike over a scheme to move staff from a two weeks on, three weeks off (2:3) rota to a “hated” 3:3, 3:4 schedule. The stoppages will begin on Monday, March 11 for Petrofac workers on the North Alwyn and Dunbar platforms and Aker Solutions staff on the Elgin-Franklin platform. A separate series of five 24-hour strikes will take place at the Shetland Gas plant. Up to 250 workers will down tools in a series of 24 hour and three hour stoppages over a four-week period. All of the assets are operated by French energy giant Total. Last week both Petrofac and Aker Solutions said they were aware of the plans and were in ongoing discussions to find a resolution. The Elgin-Franklin is among the biggest producers in the UK North Sea and the Shetland Gas plant takes in production from four of Total’s west of Shetland fields – Laggan, Tormore, Glenlivet and Edradour. Members voted overwhelmingly in favour of strikes – 88.2% on the Elgin-Franklin, 95.1% at the Shetland Gas Plant and 93.9% on the North Alwyn and Dunbar platforms. Unite regional officer John Boland said the move demonstrates members “not only want to stay on their existing rota, but if they have to change they want fair compensation”. It follows action taken last year for Total workers on the Alywn, Dunbar and Elgin platforms in a dispute over rota changes. The full 24-hour stoppages will take place on March 11, March 27 and April 12 on the Elgin-Franklin, North Alwyn and Dunbar platforms. A series of full-day strikes will take place at the gas plant on March 13, March 27, April 10, April 27 and May 8. A series of three-hour stoppages on the platforms will take place through the day on March 18, March 20 and March 22 and April 1, April 3 and April 5.
Unite has announced a series of dates when up to 250 Petrofac and Aker Solutions workers will strike in defiance of proposed rota changes. Workers on Petrofac’s North Alwyn and Dunbar platforms will stop work for 24 hours on 11 March, 27 March and 12 April and a series of three-hour stoppages with take place on 18, 20 and 22 March and 1, 3 and 5 April. Aker Solutions workers on its Elgin-Franklin platform and the Shetland Gas plant will participate in the strikes.