Unite the Union has announced around 1,650 North Sea contractors will start two more 48-hour strikes next month.
It is the latest industrial action by union members employed by Petrofac, Wood, Stork, Sparrows and Bilfinger.
Around 1,400 downed tools in related actions throughout April and May in an escalating row over jobs, pay and conditions.
Unite described those strikes as being part of a “tsunami of unrest“.
Today, the union said about 1,650 contractors across five companies would take part in the next round of strike action, starting on the morning of June 1 and ending on June 3.
A further two-day stoppage will run from June 8-10.
The new strikes cover electrical, production and mechanical technicians as well as deck crew, scaffolders, crane operators, pipefitters, platers and riggers working for Bilfinger UK, Stork Technical Services, and Sparrows Offshore Services.
All three firms have been approached for comment.
Unite warned its latest 48-hour strikes will hit operators including Apache, BP, Harbour Energy, Enquest, Ithaca Energy, Repsol Sinopec UK (RSUK), Shell and Taqa.
‘Unfettered corporate profiteering’
Sharon Graham, the union’s general-secretary, said: “An army of 1,650 offshore workers are taking the fight to multibillion oil and gas corporations. The latest rounds of strike action in June will see the biggest group of offshore workers to date taking strike action.”
She added: “Unfettered corporate profiteering at the expense of our members will not go unchallenged. Unite is determined to deliver better jobs, pay and conditions in the offshore sector, and deliver we will.”
The lone striker: North Sea worker says ‘we are all in this together’
Last week Unite reported around 600 Bilfinger contractors on Ithaca, CNR International and Taqa assets had rejected new pay offers.
The union said the offers all constituted a basic pay increase of 6% – a “significant real terms pay cut”, given inflation stands at 13.5%.
It also confirmed the 600 or so Bilfinger employees would take part in next month’s stoppages, together with 200 of their colleagues on BP and RSUK assets.
About 650 Stork offshore members will also join the stoppages in June, along with 200 workers employed by Sparrows.
Whether it is over delivering improved pay, fairer and safer working rotas or holidays, Unite has one simple message for the contractors and operators – we will stand up for our members.”
Unite the Union
Unite industrial officer John Boland said: “Unite’s members deserve a much bigger share of the bonanza profits being recorded by oil and gas operators than the real terms pay cuts currently being offered.
“Around 1,650 members across the companies we are in dispute with remain determined, and fully focused on securing a better deal.
“Whether it is over delivering improved pay, fairer and safer working rotas or holidays, Unite has one simple message for the contractors and operators – we will stand up for our members, we hold you to account and, in the end, we will win.”
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