Aberdeen could be struck by industrial action after North Sea Oil unions threatened to strike for the first time since the 1990s.
The move comes amid dropping oil prices and severe job losses which will put further strain on North Sea oil production. The GMB and Unite unions, which represent many workers in the offshore industry have threatened action over changes to staff rotas, rate of pay, sick pay and holiday pay.
According a legal associate involved in the meetings with Union representatives and oil companies “Operators and their contractors who have prepared in advance, have a robust contingency plan in place, are willing to engage with staff, and be on the front foot in communicating their message to influencers will be best placed to prevent or at least minimise disruption to oil and gas production at a time when the North Sea can least afford a break in output.”
The news comes following the government announcement that they intend to make “significant changes” to the strike laws in the UK in order to prevent strikes coming into force through the backdoor.
Under new reforms expected to be announced in the Queen’s Speech, in order for a strike to go ahead there will need to be a 50% turnout threshold for ballots on industrial action. Under current rules there is no specific level of participation by union members, but rather the most votes for the motion wins. In sectors affecting the public, such as health, education, tranpsort and fire services, 40% of those eligible to vote must back action for strikes in core public services to make it more difficult for key sectors to strike.
The government are also looking into making it possible to replace striking staff with temporary staff, a ban that has been in place since the 1970s. Business Secretary Sajid Javid said:"The changes we want to make to strike laws are absolutely proportionate and sensible.
“What people are fed up with is strike action that hasn't been properly supported by members of the union especially when it comes to essential public services.
“Think of the impact [a strike] has - transport, the health service - on ordinary people going about their daily jobs. I think they should be in people's minds as well when these kind of decisions are made."
He added: “By increasing the thresholds it will certainly increase the hurdles that need to be crossed but it is the right thing to do, it is the fair thing to do.
"There are lots of reasons for governments to be involved in making rules and regulations, but there are also lots of reasons for governments to stay out of the way. Sometimes I think they can get too involved and actually make things worse rather than better.
"I believe in more deregulation, we are committed to reducing the burden of regulation on businesses."
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