Offshore are you ready to support

as an offshore scaff i wish yous well i am in unite and will be monitoring the situatiion as i beleive that we will all have to take action on this disgracefull judgement by some degenerate old cant who has never had to struggle a day in his life

any meetings to be held in north east england ? any info please

Contact the rmt/oilc im sure there is one scheduled for newcastle you could also pm old scaff as he will have the info

watch out for the cameras as you go into the OILC office!!

there is a meeting planned for newcastle station hotel next month i will post the date tomorrow,there is also one planned for inverness to coincide with the S.T.U.C convention were jake or bob crowe are hoping to bring the situation to the fore.

thanks for the info

have been offshore for years,two on two off,3 on 3 off.
brilliant.no Premium time no overtime work bankholidays singletime
if this job was advertised you would throw bricks at it,or by the way it is only,
12 days off, remember 168 hrs 14 x12 hr shifts at £16.25 hr

Working Time Debate Kicks Off !
Dear colleagues,


WORKING TIME DEBATE KICKS OFF!

Glasgow meeting calls on referendum for action and union unity!

In Glasgow city centre 19-1-12 just over 60 members attended the first in a series of meetings to discuss the perverse ruling of the Supreme Court, which has denied offshore workers any benefit from the Working Time Regulations. Emotions ran high as strategies were considered and discussed on how offshore workers could now bring about a reduction in annual hours in the same way all of our European colleagues have, by providing 4-weeks holiday as per the regulations.

Members expressed anger about some workers continuing to work excessive additional days and weeks while we were fighting this. Members called on their colleagues to do ‘the right thing’ and refuse additional days, weeks, and even overtime, the call being - make it difficult for the employers! Members also argued all offshore workers should be doing what they were supposed to be doing on the safety front, no turning a blind eye or bending the rules to get the job done or to suit the make-up of emergency response teams and such like - work to the rules!

Regional Organiser Jake Molloy explained that the ‘legal’ route was now almost certainly at an end. Members asked about the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice. Jake told the meeting that lawyers were still looking at every angle but the reality is, even if a route was found it could take years and cost hundreds of thousands of pounds. Jake told the meeting it was now down to the offshore workforce to stand together and force the employer’s hand. He wanted to gather the views of members the length and breadth of the country on how best to do that.

Members first pointed to the need for unity with the other unions involved and it was agreed this should be taken to a National, TUC level to ensure this happened. Unite, GMB and Nautilus should all be approached to form a united campaign on the issue and we should look to take the issue to the STUC Congress in April to get that unity. Attendees called for a referendum asking members whether they would support an industry wide ballot on the question of industrial action and again there had to be unity on this with the other unions. Lobbying MPs and MEPs was raised and will be considered.

Members did have concerns about getting unity due to so many colleagues now enjoying enhanced rotas like 2x3 and 2x2-2x4. RMT’s Assistant National Secretary Mark Carden pointed to the fact the employers had just spent 8 years and more, and millions of pounds to get this ruling and they aren’t going to do that and not use the ruling they fought for. Jake Molloy agreed and told the meeting they should go back to their 2x3 colleagues and warn them - ‘anybody out there who thinks they are safe and can’t be touched had better think again’.
Evidence of this came from one attendee who works on the Beryl field. He told the meeting that during his last trip on Beryl workers were informed that as from April they would no longer get the OCA agreement 4-weeks paid leave, it was being cut to 2-weeks. He also reported that several contractors had told their core teams that 2x3 was coming to an end and they would be reverting back to 2x2!

Jake warned this could be just the tip of the iceberg, because all 2x3 and enhanced rotas were “gifted” by the operators. “These provisions could be taken off you just as quickly as they were given out” said Jake. He went on to say: “This is not just a fight for workers who don’t currently have 4-weeks holiday or 2x3, it’s a fight for every single worker in the UK sector! Those who currently enjoy additional leave should be standing shoulder to shoulder with those who don’t, not just to get their colleagues leave, but to protect what they have! This is a fight for all to protect what we have and secure improvements for others.”

The next meeting in this series will take place in Newcastle on February 23rd at the Station Hotel. All members are urged to attend and have their say about this important issue. RMT General Secretary Bob Crow will be in attendance and you can put your questions and views directly to him on the day. In the meantime check this site regularly for further updates, and tell your colleagues about it, members or not, because this issue WILL affect each and every worker so we must organise now!

Regards

Offshore Energy Branch Secretary



23-02-12 - WTD - NEWCASTLE MEETING

Bob Crow in attendance

Been there done that n guess what the offshore monkeys wouldn't strike for guys on the beach n when they are home half of them work on the black n take work from us so if they want to work offshore they knew the score when they signed up for it

If we are asked by our union to strike then we strike , we were not asked to strike so if we do we are sacked . If people are moonlighting on their leave they should be exposed as there is no need for greed .I feel lucky to have a decent job offshore and I respect the fact people fought hard over the years to get us decent working conditions . I feel it is our duty to stand up and protect what so many fought for .

ive worked offshore myself , not on a contract or regular 2 on 2 off or whatever but what exactly is going on there , is it about more holidays/less or pay ?

It`s about getting 4 weeks paid holidays , some of us have it but after a recent court ruling it is widely forecast that most contractors will withdraw this . With the law on their side and a glut of manpower available it is only a matter of time before things start going backwards at a very fast pace . A strong will is needed from all working offshore or it will be back to the bullying of the eighties before we know it .

Alamo16584 said:

Been there done that n guess what the offshore monkeys wouldn't strike for guys on the beach n when they are home half of them work on the black n take work from us so if they want to work offshore they knew the score when they signed up for it

Click to expand...

class! try reading the threads before posting,"they knew the score when they signed up for it" the dispute is the entitlement to 4 weeks holiday like the rest of the country and that is what we signed up for.the oil barons are trying to take that away.i have worked offhore fore over 16 years on and off and the onshore workers have never asked for our support probably due to the fact that union representation was never allowed or recognised by the oil barons.it has only been in the last 6-8 years that the companies in the OCA would speack to the unions and to this day donot speak to the OILC

alright lads. a few lads from the rig would like to go a long to the newcastle meeting but are not in the oilc/rmt but are in diffrent unions will it be ok.

Does any one know what the main contractors are actually planning to do about this ruling and how things stand now

The next Oilc meeting will take place at Newcastle Station hotel 23/02/12 1pm
All non members are welcome and can enrol on the day. If there is any other non Oilc union members who follow this thread then can i ask you what your unions intentions are to fight to overcome this decision. If you get any information can you post or pm me. As you know this holiday entitlement will be taken away from you at any time there is no guarantees that from December to December your company will no longer have to pay this entitlement. There are bad times ahead in the Offshore Industry so get along to this meeting if you live in or around this area the union will play it's cards close to it's members as the oil tycoons sit back an wait to see what the next move will be
DON'T GIVE UP THE FIGHT!!!

COTA Legal Challenge Defeated- Vote Yes for Strike Action


Today at the Court of Session in Edinburgh the COTA companies tried to persuade a Judge, Lord Woolman, that the proposed ballot of.RMT and Unite catering members was unlawful. The employers were applying an "interim interdict" which is essentially a ruling from the court to stop the ballot.

We are delighted to announce that the Judge refused the employers application, meaning the ballot will now go ahead!


The employers tried to argue that the unions had served notice of a ballot for strike on the wrong companies. They claimed that by serving notice on the companies in Aberdeen, we had not notified the employers who are based abroad. The Judge found against them on this arguing we had served notice on the agents working on behalf of the employer.


The employers also argued we hadn't named the place of work for every employee which they claimed should be the specific installations. Our QC, Ken McGuire QC argued we couldn't provide this as our members regularly moved around different installations or could be moved at any time by the employer.

The Judge agreed supporting our argument that the most practical explanation for the place of work was where that work is administered from and that was the offices in Aberdeen. This is great news for not only catering workers but workers across the sector as many are employed on an ad-hoc basis and are employed 'allegedly' by companies abroad. The employers tried to intimidate and bully our members through this action but have failed, demonstrating once again that the unions will support our members and fight for their rights when challenged.

We call on all catering workers who are non-members to join the union now and to support their colleagues who have bravely voted to fight for better pay and conditions for all.

RMT/OILC advises all catering members to vote 100% for Strike Action. Send a message to these employers that you will not be bullied or intimidated

RMT Offshore Energy Branch