Thousands of workers in the offshore oil and gas industry may take industrial action over a pay freeze.
Keith Hazlewood, national secretary at the GMB, said the Offshore Contractors’ Assoc-iation had put “nothing on the table” for his members in this year’s pay review.
“After three meetings the OCA has not moved from its original position of a pay freeze so we are consulting our members to test the strength of feeling before we move to a ballot for industrial action,” he said.
“We are prepared to sit down any time to try to get improvements to their offer. We are trying to see what the strength of feeling is among workers in the North Sea before pursuing any further action.”
He added that he was “optimistic” that meetings could break the deadlock and that the workers would not strike. Any strike could have an impact on oil and gas production in the North Sea.
The OCA confirmed that pay negotiations with the unions had failed, and that fresh talks were expected.
Bill Murray, chief executive, said: “Simple economics tell us that the offshore oil and gas industry in the UK is facing three major challenges.
“Firstly, we have declining production. Secondly, there is a lack of available finance to bring forward new production.
“And thirdly, and most importantly, there are high operating costs.
“While there is little we can do about the first two issues, we believe that the very least we can do is refrain from pushing the operating costs up still further.”
© PE Publishing, 9 September 2009
