TAQA installations dispute over after improvements to pay and conditions

Unite, Scotland’s leading offshore trade union, confirmed today (29 November) that over 80 Odfjell Technology Ltd drillers have settled a long-running dispute over pay and conditions on TAQA installations. 

 

A revised pay offer by the company was overwhelmingly accepted by 77 per cent of Unite’s drillers. The pay deal backdated to 1 June 2023 will increase basic salaries by eight per cent. 

 

A fixed contract payment worth around five per cent on top of basic monthly salaries will now be fully converted into the basic salary going forward.

 

In effect, this equates to a 13 per cent increase being fully consolidated into pensions, overtime, and future pay increases. A 15 per cent retention bonus upon release from the TAQA contract was also negotiated as part of the pay deal. 

 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite has negotiated and delivered another win in the offshore sector for our members.  

 

“The deal was secured because our members were brave enough to stand up and fight the company to secure better jobs, pay and conditions.” 

 

Unite’s members on TAQA units are based on the following installations: Harding, Tern Alpha, East Brae, Brae Alpha and the North Cormorant. The members involved includes drillers, electricians, mechanics, and materials controllers.   

 

Industrial action ballots involving TAQA and Equinor installations were set to close on 7 December. The separate dispute involving Odfjell Technology crews on Equinor’s Mariner unit remains unresolved.

 

Odfjell Technology (UK) Ltd released its annual accounts on 29 August 2023, which indicates the company increased its annual profit after taxation to £6.1m in 2022 up from £2.6m in 2021. 

 

Vic Fraser Unite industrial officer, added: “Unite is pleased to have secured a pay victory for our Odfjell Technology drilling members on TAQA installations. 

 

“The deal was overwhelmingly backed by our members, and it will see a number of major improvements to their terms and conditions.” 

 

ENDS