9% wage increase as long-running dispute over

Unite, the UK’s leading offshore trade union, can confirm today (20 June) that its members on BP Petrofac installations have accepted a significantly improved wage offer bringing the long-running dispute to an end.

Around 90 workers overwhelmingly backed a new offer which is the equivalent to a 9 per cent salary uplift. The deal consists of three elements those being the Energy Services Agreement (ESA) 4 per cent increase, a third week’s leave paid from offshore time, and an increase to the existing retention allowance. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The BP Petrofac deal is the latest in a number of big wins for Unite’s offshore membership. Unite is winning for workers in the North Sea and the Petrofac deal is another example. Our members have been involved in a long-running dispute with the company, so we are pleased that there is now a deal. Unite will always back our members in the fight for good jobs, pay and conditions in the offshore sector.” 

 The wage deal involving Unite’s members employed by Petrofac on BP assets brings the dispute, which has been going on since November 2022, to a conclusion. The BP Petrofac installations include Andrew, Clair, Clair Ridge, ETAP, and the Glen Lyon floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facility. In March, Unite members voted to support strike action by a massive 95.5 per cent to fight for a better deal.

Unite industrial officer John Boland, added: “The overwhelming support of our BP Petrofac membership for the wage offer is a big victory. The deal is the equivalent to a 9 per cent uplift on basic salaries, which will be a significant boost to the pay packets of our members.

It only came about because our members took BP Petrofac head-on. They must be congratulated for remaining firm because they have been on strike at various points over the last eight months fighting to secure a better deal.”

Yesterday, Unite announced its members at Sullom Voe terminal accepted an increase worth 8.1 per cent for 2022 while around 700 Bilfinger workers recently agreed to a wage offer worth 10 per cent pay for this year. The trade union remains in dispute with a number of offshore employers including Stork, Petrofac Ithaca and the Wood Group.

ENDS