Offshore worker strike could ‘severely disrupt’ UK fuel supplies, warns Unite the Union

A planned strike by around 160 offshore workers could disrupt fuel supplies, Unite the Union has warned.

The 24-hour strike by Apache workers is due to begin at 6am on Wednesday and will run until 5.59am on Thursday.

Workers from across platforms in the North Sea, including Forties Alpha, Forties Bravo, Forties Charlie, Forties Delta, Forties Echo, Beryl Alpha and Beryl Bravo, will walk out due to an ongoing row over pay.

The motion was backed by workers after rejecting a 4% pay increase, which Unite said would amount to a real-terms pay cut.

Unite is warning that a strike could bring the “critical” Charlie platform to a standstill, which could have a knock-on effect of shutting off the Forties Pipeline System.

More than 80 offshore fields and St Fergus gas plant flow through the Forties pipeline, accounting for 29% of the UK’s oil and 30% of its gas.

A second 24-hour strike has already been scheduled for November 4-5.

‘This could severely affect the UK’s fuel supplies’

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Apache is part of a global company which is making billions of pounds in profit.

“They can easily afford to resolve this dispute without even a dent in their profits by making an acceptable offer to our members.

“The fact is, Apache has so far chosen not to do this, which is putting UK fuel supplies at risk. That is reckless behaviour, and it is driven by shameful corporate greed.”

Workers set to strike include electrical, instrument, mechanical and production technicians, who keep the platforms running.

Talks are due to take place with the conciliation service ACAS prior to the strike.

Unite industrial officer Stevie Davies, added: “We want these talks to be successful, but we are not hopeful because Apache has shown no willingness to resolve this dispute.

“Many of our members have been offered a real terms pay cut – and that is unacceptable for an extremely profitable oil and gas operator.

“We have repeatedly warned that any action could lead to a material disruption in the Forties Pipeline. This could severely affect the UK’s fuel supplies.

“Apache not only don’t seem to care for their workers, but they have shown no concern for other operators and consumers.”

Apache has ‘contingency plans’ ahead of planned strike

Apache believes the final offer was “fair” and that they did not expect any disruption if the strike were to go ahead.

A spokesperson said: “Apache has engaged constructively throughout the pay discussions. We believe our final offer to the union is fair and recognises the contribution of our offshore workforce, alongside the wider benefits in our total rewards package.

“The proposed pay increase is also in line with that awarded to our non-unionised employees earlier this year.

“Our offer provides a 4% pay increase for employees in the bargaining unit, whose earnings already place them among the highest earners in the UK and whose offshore rota averages 153 working days a year.”

“Based on our current contingency plans, we do not anticipate that industrial action would affect other producers’ ability to continue operating through the Forties Pipeline System.

“Our plans include maintaining experienced personnel on Forties Charlie to operate the plant and support continued third-party production, even if production from all five Apache-operated Forties platforms were suspended.

“Any resulting reduction in pipeline pressure if Apache production was suspended would be comparable to that experienced during a routine maintenance outage.”