Ithaca braces for six-day strike by Petrofac offshore workers

Around 85 offshore workers employed by Petrofac are set to take strike action over six days on installations operated by Ithaca Energy in a long-running dispute over a ‘clawback’ policy.

The Unite trade union said its members overwhelmingly rejected Petrofac’s offer to reduce Ithaca’s fourteen-day clawback policy by two days, adding that the industry norm is seven days.

“Twelve days would still leave the Petrofac workers operating under the highest rate of ‘clawback’ days in the offshore sector. It is the financial equivalent of up to £6,000 lost income per person,” the union said.

The strike action, which starts on October 1, includes electrical, production and mechanical technicians in addition to deck crew, scaffolders and crane operators on the FPF1 platform, Alba FSU, Alba North, Captain FPSO, and Captain WPP installations.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s Petrofac Ithaca members continue to stand firm in the fight for better jobs, pay and conditions. Unite’s members rightly rejected the latest offer because it would still leave them having to work the highest number of clawback days in the offshore sector. This is unacceptable. Our members will have their union’s full support in the latest phase of their strike action.”

Last week, Unite revealed that around 85 offshore workers on a number of Shell installations overwhelmingly accepted an improved wage offer. The deal secured a cumulative increase of 10%, which is worth a pay increase of up to £6,000. A number of other improvements were secured including enhancements to sick pay and Shell’s own clawback policy on the Gannet, Nelson, Shearwater and Brent Charlie installations.