Forties and Beryl operations face strike threat
The UK’s Unite the Union could initiate strike action this month on the Forties and Beryl oil fields in the central North Sea.
This follows backing from more than 160 Apache-employed offshore personnel, who rejected the company’s latest pay offer. They include electrical, instrument, mechanical and production technicians, telecommunications specialists and radio operators.
The offer amounts to a pay cut in real terms for staff, the union claimed, with the proposals said to range from a pay freeze to below inflation increases.
Unite added that Apache has also set deadlines for reaching an agreement over backpay, suggesting that payments may otherwise be withheld.
Strike action could hit seven Apache facilities associated with the Forties and Beryl oil fields, Unite warned, potentially halting operations on the Forties Charlie platform altogether.
That scenario could lead to a lack of pressure in the Ineos-Forties Pipeline System, which transports about 29% of the UK's oil and 30% of its gas. The disruption could also affect production from other companies, including Neo Next+, Harbour Energy, Serica Energy, CNOOC, Adura and bp.
Apache North Sea Production is a subsidiary of Houston-based APA Corp.
Wood dispute targets Harbour Energy-operated platforms
Unite is also in a dispute with Wood Group over the latter’s decision to allegedly cut the pay as well as the conditions of dozens of staff, including warnings of issuing fire and rehire notices.
Strike action is due to start at 00.01 Oct. 6 and continue until 23.59 on Oct. 7. Further days of action are currently planned on Oct. 20-21 and Nov. 3-4.
The action would impact the Britannia, Jasmine, Judy, Lomond and North Everest platforms in the central UK North Sea, all operated by Harbour Energy. Staff involved include electrical, production, instrument and mechanical technicians.
