BP UK Platforms Face Strikes

The threat of industrial action in the UK North Sea has spread to all of the major BP's platforms owned by Petrofac, following a majority vote March 20 for a strike by Unite union members. The dates will be announced in due course, Unite said.

The dispute centres on Unite members working 3:3 shift rotas with no holiday entitlement and who want a change in rota to 3:4 or 3 weeks paid holidays to ensure they have more time off.

The Petrofac dispute is separate from the ongoing industrial action involving Unite's membership at French producer Total's Shetland Gas Plant, and the Alwyn, Dunbar and Elgin offshore platforms. That started with contractors being dismissed and re-employed on worse terms and conditions, including the personally disruptive 3:3 shift system.

Unite said its Petrofac members were "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."