UPDATE FOR RMT OFFSHORE MEMBERS

Dear Colleague

 

I am writing to update offshore members on the union’s work to prevent damage to jobs and conditions in offshore oil and gas sector from an unmanaged transition, as well as recent policy developments at government level.

 

Firstly, your union has drawn up a leaflet for campaigning to protect your job, pay, conditions and safety from an unmanaged transition to zero carbon forms of production in the offshore energy sector. The leaflet can be downloaded here and RMT encourages our offshore members to circulate this widely, especially in your tea shacks and heliports.

 

Secondly, the Energy Ministers in the UK and Scottish governments issued a joint statement last week that they will be reviving work to deliver the offshore skills passport. The work will be led by OEUK and RenewableUK. The Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero has confirmed that the RMT will also be part of this work, along with other offshore unions on the Offshore Co-ordinating Group. We are awaiting further details from the government and will continue to seek political support in the UK and Scottish Parliaments for our offshore members.

 

GB Energy’s HQ will be in Aberdeen, which is an important vote of confidence in the future of offshore workers in a changing industry. Whether you are covered by the COTA, ESA or ODIA agreements or you work in other parts of the offshore supply chain such as ROV, we will fight tooth and nail to enforce your trade union rights to ensure that the decarbonisation agenda does not spill over into premature cessation of existing North Sea oil and gas production. I repeat RMT’s granite commitment to protecting our offshore members’ jobs and terms and conditions.

 

Finally, it is encouraging to see that RMT is seeking recognition at Deep Ocean, a Norwegian owned ROV operator with a number of contracts on the UKCS. This follows a significant growth in RMT membership at the company. This is further vindication of the RMT’s comprehensive approach to organising on installations and in the offshore supply chain, which is being led by Lead Officer Ann Joss. I strongly encourage all RMT members across the offshore sector to encourage their workmates to join RMT.

 

I will keep you further updated with developments.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Mick Lynch