Union confirm Further Strikes following redundancy notices

Unite, the workers union has confirmed further strike dates following Aker Solutions and Petrofac announced redundancy notices to staff.

Unite confirmed both Aker and Petrofac have started a consultation period on terminating and re-engaging all workers.

A 30 day (Aker Solutions) and 45 day (Petrofac) consultation period is now respectively in place for both companies.

Unite claim meetings with both Aker Solutions and Petrofac proved unproductive.

It’s understood the dispute could affect up to 250 members.

Last month union members voted to strike over a scheme to move staff from a two weeks on, three weeks off (2:3) rota to a “hated” 3:3, 3:4 schedule.

The two additional 24-hour strike dates will take place on March 19 and April 2, beginning at 7am.

Work stoppages will begin on Monday, March 11 for Petrofac workers on the North Alwyn and Dunbar platforms and Aker Solutions staff on the Elgin-Franklin platform.

A separate series of five 24-hour strikes will take place at the Shetland Gas plant.

John Boland, Unite regional industrial officer, said: “The actions by Aker and Petrofac at the behest of Total are brutal and scandalous.

“Instead of responding to the legitimate concerns our members have over the imposition of the hated 3:3 or 3:4 rotas in a responsible and constructive manner, the companies have responded by serving redundancy notices.

“This disgraceful behaviour will not go unchallenged and for this reason we have had no option but to increase the scheduled days of industrial action.

“Unite will robustly defend the interests of our members and will confront any intimidation by Aker and Petrofac blow by blow until they see sense.”

Industrial action ballot papers were returned by Petrofac workers on the North Alwyn and Dunbar platforms last week, with an overwhelming majority voting to strike.

Aker Solutions members working on the Elgin-Franklin platform were also balloted, alongside those working at the Shetland Gas Plant.