Dozens of oil and gas platforms are to be “brought to a standstill” for 48 hours in a major wave of strike action.

Unite the union said the action set to hit oil and gas operators comes amid a “massive pay dispute”, with 1,350 offshore workers expected to strike.

The trade union said the strike action starting on April 24 will impact platforms and the offshore installations of major oil and gas operators including BP, CNRI, EnQuest, Harbour Energy, Ithaca, Shell and Total.


🔔 Get unlimited access to The Herald with our Digital Pack and save over 20 per cent annually

👉 Click here to sign up for this offer


Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said the move comes as oil and gas companies in the offshore sector “are enjoying record windfall profits”.

She said that "1,350 offshore workers will now take part in an unprecedented tsunami of industrial action over 48 hours with hundreds more set to join them", adding: “Unite will support all our members every step of the way in this fight for better jobs, pay and conditions."

The five companies to be impacted by the strike action are Bilfinger UK Limited, Petrofac Facilities Management, Stork Technical Services, Sparrows Offshore Services, and Worley Services UK Limited.

The workforce includes electrical, production and mechanical technicians in addition to deck crew, scaffolders crane operators, pipefitters, platers, and riggers. 

John Boland, Unite industrial officer, said the action "will bring dozens of platforms to a standstill", adding: “Unite has received an emphatic mandate in support of strike action.

"It is historic and it will be the biggest offshore stoppage in a generation.”

The union said issues under dispute as well as pay include working rotas, holidays, and offshore safety. 

The news comes as Unite said that around 100 members employed by construction contractor Kaefer Limited are set to take 12 weeks all-out strike action at the Rosyth dockyard.  

The Kaefer workers, which includes painters, cleaners, scaffolders and support service staff, are set to take the strike action from April 17. Unite claims the strike action will directly threaten progress on the Type 31 frigates contract.

The union said 98.4 per cent of its members supported the action over pay.


The village set to become Scotland's new commuter community

Ambitious plans for the development of Scotland’s new commuter community have taken a step forward with the opening of a direct link to a major motorway.

The expansion of the village of Winchburgh, located 12 miles east of Edinburgh, is being billed as being one of the biggest projects of its kind anywhere in the UK.


Scotland leads growth in shopper footfall

Retailers received a pre-Easter boost with news that more shoppers were pounding the pavements again in the five-week period up to April 1 with their endeavours making footfall better than the UK average of 6.8% year on year.

However, “enhanced levels of consumer confidence and spending and will be central to Scotland’s economic recovery”, the Scottish Retail Consortium has said.


​​Sign up for free: You can now get the briefing sent direct to your email inbox twice-daily, and Ian McConnell on Business on Sunday 👇


The Herald: