Court dismisses UK working conditions challenge

Offshore staff

LONDON -- Oil & Gas UK has welcomed a ruling that time off work for the UK’s offshore oil and gas workforce complies with legal requirements.

Chief Executive Malcolm Webb said: “The Court of Session’s definitive ruling that rotas worked in the UK offshore oil and gas industry more than meet the requirements of the Working Time Directive is welcome. Working patterns typically allow offshore workers to spend over 26 weeks a year away from work onshore.

“The Court of Session’s ruling follows the similar ruling we received from the Employment Appeal Tribunal at the previous stage of appeal last year. We do hope that both sides in this long-running litigation can now abide by this definitive ruling of Scotland’s senior court.”

“If needs be, Oil & Gas UK will oppose any further appeal by the unions to the UK Supreme Court. However, we would much prefer to use our resources to build on the progress already made with the unions through channels such as OPITO, Step Change in Safety and the Oil Spill Advisory Group for the benefit of all who work in our industry. This expensive legal battle on working time has already consumed far too many of our respective resources and surely should not be allowed to waste yet more.”

10/21/2010