Total and Unite Settle Dispute

An industrial dispute involving three Total UK central North Sea gas platforms has been called off, after trade union Unite accepted a revised pay offer and cancelled all planned strikes.

Unite confirmed September 26 its members accepted a revised pay offer by Total by 61.9% in favour, in a 93% turnout. It means 12-hour strikes scheduled for October 1, 15 and 29 have been called off.

Unite held talks with Total over several weeks at UK independent conciliation service ACAS in an effort to break the deadlock in the protracted dispute on the Alwyn, Dunbar and Elgin gas platforms. It said acceptance of the revised offer by Total will mean a basic headline pay rise of 15%, plus substantial retention bonuses, as compensation for the 3:3 rotas - which Unite opposes  - being retained.  

Wullie Wallace, Unite regional industrial officer, said its members had "secured victory with a 15% base increase and a substantial bonus for the workforce" but noted its continuing "serious concerns over the 3/3 rota system which we will monitor."  Shell last week announced it would end its use of 3/3 shift patterns offshore UK from May 2019. (Banner photo: Elgin platform, courtesy  Total)