Development comes amid offshore unrest

Unite, Scotland’s leading trade union, has signed a recognition deal with the offshore operator CNOOC Petroleum Europe Limited (“CNOOC”) .

The voluntary agreement negotiated with CNOOC covers around 140 workers on the Buzzard, Scott, and Golden Eagle platforms.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a significant recognition deal for our members working for CNOOC. It comes at a time when there is widespread industrial unrest in the offshore sector due to unfettered corporate profiteering.”

We believe our offshore members’ determination to secure better jobs, pay and conditions is striking a chord. Offshore operators and contractors must see that there is a better way to treat their workforce, and if they do not, then Unite will hold them to account.”

The positive development for trade union and workers’ rights comes amid a ‘tsunami’ of industrial unrest hitting the offshore sector. Last week, around 1200 contractors resumed 48-hour strike action (10 - 12 May) in an increasingly bitter dispute over jobs, pay and conditions in the offshore sector.

John Boland, Unite industrial officer, said: “This is a really significant recognition agreement signed with CNOOC. It is only the second recognition agreement we have secured with an offshore operator. We believe it comes at a time when our members’ resolve is resonating across the offshore sector. Corporations are sitting up and taking notice. Unite hopes this positive development will lead to other operators following a similar path as CNOOC.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Buzzard is located about 100 kilometres northeast of Aberdeen, UK and produced first oil in 2007.

The CNOOC International-operated Golden Eagle platform is located about 111 kilometres northeast of Aberdeen, UK and produced first oil in 2014.

The Scott asset is located approximately 185 kilometres north-east of Aberdeen and commenced production in 1993. The Scott, Telford and Rochelle fields are tied into the platform.