Shameful attack

Unite members at Wood Group, a multinational oil and gas services company, have overwhelmingly backed taking industrial action in a dispute over pay cuts and changes to allowances.

 

Talks at the conciliation services Acas broke down on Friday (July 8) after Wood Group refused to reconsider swingeing 30 per cent pay cuts on eight of Shell’s North Sea oil and gas platforms.

 

Unite had urged the firm to start negotiating meaningfully to find a settlement prior to any industrial action.

 

Today (Wednesday July 13) there was resounding endorsement for industrial action with 99.1 per cent of those voting in the ballot backing strike action, 99.5 per cent supporting action short of a strike and a turnout of 88.6 per cent.

 

“Wood Group could have avoided this escalation through meaningful negotiations, instead it has chosen to continue with this shameful attack on our members pay and working conditions,” said John Boland, Unite regional officer.

 

Workers have already seen significant reductions in allowances over the last two years and recent changes have also seen workers move to a three-week offshore working cycle.

 

“Wood Group needs to drop its refusal to properly negotiate to halt this dispute and take a step back from implementing the crippling cuts to our members pay and terms and conditions,” said John.

 

More than 200 North Sea oil rig workers were balloted over the cuts including large cuts to sickness pay and travel allowances, and retaining existing life insurance.

 

“Our members have worked with Wood Group to secure its future in what has been extremely challenging times for the sector,” said John.

 

“The least the company can do is show a similar commitment to its workforce by dropping these swingeing cuts,” he said.