More than 160 workers at Apache North Sea Production Limited plan a 24-hour strike beginning Oct. 21 in a pay dispute that Unite says could disrupt the Forties Pipeline System.
The union expects the walkout to affect seven platforms in the Forties and Beryl developments. Its members include production and telecommunications technicians. Unite says a pipeline disruption could affect other operators and fuel supplies in the United Kingdom.
Apache says its offer would give employees covered by the bargaining unit a 4% raise. The company describes those workers as among the United Kingdom’s highest earners and says their offshore rota averages 153 working days a year.
Unite says many workers would face a pay cut after inflation, with individual offers ranging from a freeze to increases below inflation. It also says withheld back pay could leave some members thousands of pounds out of pocket. Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said Apache could afford to improve its offer without a significant effect on profits.
Apache says it would keep experienced staff at Forties Charlie to operate the plant. The company expects other producers to continue using the pipeline even if production stops at all five Apache-operated Forties platforms. It compared any resulting drop in pipeline pressure with one during routine maintenance.
Unite industrial officer Stevie Davies said talks with the conciliation service Acas were due before the walkout, but he expressed doubt that they would settle the dispute. The first strike is scheduled to end Oct. 22. A second 24-hour strike is planned from Nov. 4 to Nov. 5.
