GMB welcomes new offshore deal
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THE new Energy Service Agreement (ESA) draft thrashed out with oil and gas operators has been praised by trade unions.
After a year of negotiations, the offshore trade unions (GMB, Unite and RMT) finally have an offshore collective agreement, which they will now take to their members for consultation with a recommendation that they support it.
The new ESA will replace the Offshore Contractors Partnership Agreement (OCPA) that ended on December 31, 2020.
This new agreement will initially cover 13 offshore contractor companies with the flexibility to bring in more companies in the future.
The ESA has been widely supported by operators, Oil and Gas UK, the Oil and Gas Authority, and both UK and Scottish Governments. It will provide baseline terms and conditions for contractors in the offshore industry and provide greater security for the workforce.
Ross Murdoch, GMB National Officer, said: “This is a good deal for our oil and gas workers in the UK energy market.
“North Sea oil and gas is an iconic success story of Britain's success over the last 20 years, and we think this safeguards the industry’s future.
“It’s another great example where employers and workers work together to ensure an industry’s success.
“We’re going to our membership with a recommendation to accept this landmark deal.”
