Dozens of Petrofac employees on BP platforms in the North Sea have voted to go on strike. Members of the Unite union voted to down tools amid a dispute around three-week offshore working patterns. 100% of those who voted backed strike action, of a 75% turnout. Around 45 members will take part in the strikes across the ETAP , Clair and Clair Ridge platforms. Unite said dates will be announced in “due course”. The dispute is separate from on-going strike action taking place with Petrofac and Aker Solutions workers on Total’s Alwyn, Elgin and Dunbar platforms and the Shetland gas plant. Unite said members are working three weeks on, three weeks off (3:3) rotas with no holiday entitlement and are seeking a change to either a 3:4 rota or for allocation of extra holidays. Petrofac said it offered to add two weeks’ paid holiday, which was rejected. Regional officer John Boland said: “Unite’s Petrofac members working on all BP platforms have voted emphatically for industrial action. “By 100%, the workforce are rightly demanding that their rotas be changed from the hated 3:3, and to have more time off with their families. “So, we call on BP and Petrofac to listen to our members’ reasonable request, and to put the welfare of their workforce first.” In response, a spokeswoman for Petrofac said: “We are disappointed that Unite members based on BP assets, have chosen to reject a proposal to add two weeks paid holidays to Terms and Conditions, voting instead in favour of Industrial Action. “Having worked closely with our client to develop this offer, we believe the proposal provides a fair and reasonable compromise.“ Separately to Petrofac, BP staff work a 3:4, 3:5 rotation. A BP spokesman said: “The welfare of our teams offshore and the safe and reliable operation of our assets is our main focus and will remain so regardless of outcome.” Three-week rotas have been the focal point of the separate strike action on Total platforms by Petrofac and Aker Solutions staff. Last year operators including Shell and Apache opted to change their 3:3 rotations amid claims it could have a detrimental impact on workers’ families and their mental health.
Petrofac workers on BP platforms in the North Sea have voted to strike over the three-week offshore working pattern dispute. About 45 members of the Unite union will take part in strikes that will impact the ETAP, Clair and Clair Ridge platforms. The dispute is similar to, but separate from strike action being taken by Petrofac and Aker Solutions workers on Total platforms in the region.