An extra three weeks paid leave for drillers

Unite the union confirmed today (24 February) that nearly 100 offshore drillers working for Odfjell Technology (UK) Ltd on the BP Clair and Clair Ridge have secured three weeks paid time off work per year.

Unite members have voted to accept a new working rotation following negotiations with the company. The extra three weeks leave secured is the equivalent to around a 11.5 per cent wage rise.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite is delighted to have negotiated an extra three weeks paid time off for our Odfjell drillers. It’s an excellent result for our members and this dispute was centred on securing a better working rotation. It’s a fantastic example of Unite winning better jobs, pay and conditions for our members in the offshore sector.”

It brings to an end the scheduled industrial action for Odfjell Technology workers on the Clair and Clair Ridge platforms but widespread industrial action remains scheduled across other BP installations. 

Vic Fraser Unite industrial officer, added: “We are glad Odfjell and their client BP have seen sense and understood the benefits of this new enhanced rotation. This result will benefit drilling crew both from a safety and production perspective. Everyone wins from this new working rotation, and it shouldn’t have taken the threat of industrial action to get this outcome.

“Although it brings this particular dispute to an end, offshore operators need to waken up.  Continuing with a three on and three off rotation causes unacceptable physical and mental burnout, and fatigue. Ultimately, it also leads to staff shortages. Unite will not stand by and allow this to continue. Every offshore worker deserves paid time off from that equal time rotation”. 

ENDS