Offshore Diving Industry Agreement (ODIA) and PAYE referendum

Circular No: NP/0138/16

TO ALL SHIPPING AND OFFSHORE BRANCHES AND REGIONAL COUNCILS.

Our ref: S2/5 S16/12

8th May 2016

Dear Colleagues

Offshore Diving Industry Agreement (ODIA) and PAYE referendum

Further to the previous Circular No. NP/060/13 of 20th March 2014, the union learnt yesterday that Harkand Group, a signatory to the ODIA with RMT has gone into administration.

This is a worrying period for our members and their colleagues at Harkand, particularly those who are owed pay. This is the first case, since the oil price collapsed in summer 2014, of an offshore signatory to an RMT agreement going into administration. The union is seeking further legal advice.

The UK Government’s guide to workers’ basic rights in these difficult circumstances can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/your-rights-if-your-employer-is-insolvent/overview  

Separately, the union continues to press HMRC officials to make the appropriate changes to tax law to reflect the result of the 2013 PAYE referendum of RMT divers and diving supervisors. The union met with HMRC officials and representatives of ODIA companies in Aberdeen in January to press for the necessary change to be made to PAYE legislation. We are expecting a final decision from HMRC in the near future.

You will be kept updated with further developments on both issues and I would be grateful if you could bring the content of this circular to the attention of members in your Branch.

Yours sincerely
 
Mick Cash
General Secretary