Nok er Nok

APRIL 2010

ISSUE:10

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

NRB Not really bovvered!

S

everal cases involving our

members have come to light
in recent months
demonstrating that beyond any
doubt certain members of the Oil
& Gas UK board are paying lip
service to the NRB guidelines
that were launched back in
February 2009. So you can still
be told youre Not Required Back
and when you challenge the
employers and operators
involved, their position seems to
be they are Not Really
Bothered about the guidelines.
Well weve got news for those employers/operators who
arent bothered with the guidelines WE ARE! The
guidelines were agreed by RMT, OGUK and Unite, to
facilitate a fair and just process for any proposed removal
of personnel from an installation. OILC/RMT agreed these
guidelines in good faith, believing there would be a cultural
change and this despicable practice which has plagued the
oil industry for many years would be consigned to the
dustbin of history! That doesnt seem to be the case though,
so your Branch is putting OGUK and the rest of them on
notice!

Weve had enough of the double

speak from certain OGUK
members, they are sticking two
fingers up at our members and
workers across the industry and
we arent having that. Therefore
the Offshore Energy Branch has
agreed the resolution below
which we hope the OGUK board
and the rest will take note of, or
else a new low in industrial
relations across the UKCS is
inevitable. Well bring you a full
report on the NRB situation in
the next edition of Blowout,
which should be with you in the coming weeks, and well let
you know just whos at it through our name and shame
policy!

Resolution regarding industry practice on NRB

Furthermore, and if there is no improvement, it is our

intention to call on our members, and specifically safety
reps, to withdraw support from these events. The Branch
believes some of these forums are currently little more than
talking shops, which are doing little or nothing to improve
safety and/or industrial relations. This Branch would also
seek solidarity from our colleagues in the UNITE T/G
section, meaning the possible joint withdrawal of Regional
Organisers and members alike from these events. Should this
be considered necessary, full use would be made of all
available press and media outlets to publicise this matter.
The Branch therefore requests that the Regional Organiser
provides us with a report in June 2010 setting out details of
how the current situation is being addressed. If at that stage
there is no improvement evident, the Branch shall consult
the unions National Executive and General Secretary Bob
Crow, to determine a course of action. We believe it is
critical OGUK are made aware of the seriousness of the
situation and to do this the Branch intends to publicise this
resolution which was carried unanimously at the April 8th
2010 Branch Meeting. Branch Chairman, Branch Secretary

This Branch notes the Regional Organisers invaluable

work at the Step Change, WIG, HTFG, and other industry
forums, representing our members concerns and promoting
OILC/RMT at these events. However, we would also like to
register our concerns about the Oil and Gas UK (OGUK)
statement dated 23rd March, regarding the NRB guidelines.
This Branch records our dissatisfaction with this statement
and calls on the Regional Organiser to produce a robust
rebuttal of it in the next edition of Blowout.
This Branch has solid evidence of the NRB guidelines
failing our members. Therefore, this Branch asks the
Regional Organiser to consider his continued involvement
with the OGUK groups if there is no improvement in the
current situation. The NRB guidelines were agreed by RMT,
UNITE T/G section and OGUK, but OGUK are failing to
deliver on their part of the agreement. If there is no
improvement in this situation, this Branch shall request the
Regional Organiser withdraws from participation in events
like Step Change, WIG, HTFG, etc, which take up the
valuable time of our Regional Organiser.

OFFSHORE ENERGY BRANCH RESOLUTION

The offshore energy Branch calls on the Offshore

Energy Sector Regional Organiser to address increasing
concerns being raised by members about the
application of NRB and report back to the Branch on
any progress made.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Stalag Salamis you

will travel when we say!
Y

et again Salamis are leading the way with the latest attack on your terms
and conditions, and yes thats the terms and conditions that are supposed
to comply with the OCA Agreement! Previously weve seen the use of
Temporary Lay-off where workers receive nothing while stood down at home.
More recently the company has deducted money from personnel which is at a rate
thats higher than what you can earn! (No were not joking, and this is still going
on) Weve seen the refusal to honour the 4-week paid leave provisions of the
OCA agreement, and now they are launching an attack on Travel and
Accommodation payments! The announcement from Stalag Salamis is;
profitability has reduced and we must increase it. So, they have to find ways of
making more money for the share holders, and guess whos going to pay? Youve
got it, its YOU!
The company intends to reduce travel costs by booking rail travel for employees
through Trainline.com. Employees will be expected to get to their nearest
station, use a credit or debit card in a ticket machine using a reference number
provided by the company, then print off their ticket. This ticket will be for for a
train on a fixed departure time but being reasonable people the return part will
be flexible! In our opinion this is a recipe for disaster and we are already
anticipating significant numbers of disciplinary hearings for missing trains, or else
grievances where workers are forced to pay large penalties for being on the wrong
train. For those not using this system, they will receive the price equivalent of a
Trainline.com ticket from their nearest station! In short, a quick way to reduce
your travel expense payments.
We think this is wrong and have therefore compiled a letter of grievance for all
Salamis members to send to their HR Manager. Lets fill up their desks with so
much paperwork theyll need a crane to move it. The OCA Agreement states you
should receive - travel vouchers or paid Standard Saver Fares between the
employers onshore base and the railway station nearest their home... The tickets
from Trainline.com are NOT the equivalent of this, therefore you will receive less
than what has been agreed. Not only that, the company will dictate when you
travel!!! Get your letter away today, it reads-

ance regarding the

I wish to register a griev
alter existing travel
companys proposal to
e
proposal contravenes th
expenses. I believe this
ons and may breach my
OCA Agreement provisi
e
itions. I would appreciat
existing terms and cond
ry arrangements for a
your making the necessa
fact it
matter, mindful of the
hearing to discuss this
companied by my trade
is my intention to be ac
T.
r J Molloy of OILC/RM
union representative, M
ard.
ing from you in this reg
I look forward to hear

Sign the letter and date it, copy it and keep a copy, then get it sent to the HR
Manager First Class recorded delivery.
2

NOK ER NOK

Offshore Disaster Fund

The branch would like to thank
all members, other RMT branches,
the Lindsey refinery and our
Norwegian colleagues, for their
contributions to the Offshore
Disaster Fund. The fund, for
families of the 85N helicopter
incident and our member killed on
the same day aboard the CSO
Wellservicer, has reached a total of
30,000. The branch shall now
place a resolution before the
Council of Executives calling for
the monies to be distributed on an
equal basis to the next of kin of all
the families affected.
Oilc/Rmt/Chairman

Apology to members
The Offshore Energy Branch would
like to apologise for the lack of EIE and
Blowout over the last few months. Our
workload has increased significantly,
and we have been very busy with various
industry issues. We need more people to
step forward to give a little of their time
to support the Union. We need members
to support Branch meetings by making
an effort to find out what is happening
in their Union. To have a strong voice in
this Union we must have Branch
Meetings where members can air their
views and have their say.
Travel expenses shall be paid if you
want to attend; also if any member
wants the Offshore Energy Branch to
meet in their area or city, then the
Branch would be happy to hear from
them.
Oilc/Rmt/Chairman

Subsea 7 ballot
We can report that the recent Subsea 7
referendum ballot asking the question
would you be prepared to take industrial
action in pursuit of a collective
agreement covering all disciplines not
presently covered by the ODIA
agreement has returned with a
resounding 85% of those voting in
favour.
The union will now seek early talks
with the company to discuss this matter
and we will report further in the next
edition of Blowout. In the meantime
please look for updates at: www.oilc.org
See also some of the comments from
Subsea 7 employees in this edition of
EiE.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

NOK ER NOK

Letters
Joining up!
I am currently employed with Subsea
7 as an ROV Pilot Technician on a
pipelay vessel. We are currently
working in the Gulf of Mexico
offshore of the United States, we are
due to shortly return to work from
Brazil. Our work scope for the next
year involves us working out of Brazil,
Angola and the US. I have been
employed by Subsea 7 for the last 3
years, with the last 12 months being a
"salaried" employee, and the previous
2 years were on a day rate basis.
Recently I heard the news coming
from the Seven Seas about a member
of the ROV team being replaced by
Filipino trainees, and this prompted me
to immediately join the RMT and stop
putting it off as I had been for a
number of months now. There are also
several others who have renewed their
membership or joined afresh today on
my vessel alone. Were currently trying
to push as many of the guys into
joining up, as the company has only
one thing on its mind, and thats to get
us to train up our low cost
replacements then dump us when we
have served our purpose.
This is a very serious concern to me
as the entire rigging crew aboard the
Seven Oceans has just been replaced by
Filipino Trainees.
I would like you to add me to you
mailing list so I can be kept informed
about the issues that are arising, and if
you could also add the ROV address to
the mailing list this will allow those
who have not already joined to see
what is happening, and hopefully do
the right thing and sign up.
M0122023
Now safest time to fly in helicopter says
Oil Executive
The above is a quote from Mr Bob
Keiller chairman of the Oil & Gas
UKs helicopter taskforce group.
Who is this guy trying to kid? The
latest on the Scatsa S-92 fleet update,
after finding cracks and failures on the
gearbox mounting feet, is that bolts
have been found to be sheared.
Bristows have now confirmed that due
to a rigorous application of Sikorskys
enhanced inspection regime, a hairline
crack was detected in the gearbox foot
of an S-92 after 5 hours flying. Now I

www.rmt.org.uk
ask you how safe is the S-92.
This is the same Mr Bob Keiller who
is chief executive of PSN who are
signatories of the present OCA
agreement, and who are at present
attacking our 4 weeks holidays now
reduced to 3 weeks on the Ninian &
Murchison.
M0104767
Miserable Maersk!
I am working on an fpso, the
NORTH SEA PRODUCER. (floating
production, storage and offloading
unit ed) The latest thing Maersk
have come up with is asking us to pay out of our welfare fund - a donation
towards the satellite t.v. onboard the
ship. If we refuse to help the poor
company out, they have threatened to
up the bond prices to pay for it.
WHAT NEXT? Paying for meals - and
choppers? They really are taking the
piss now!
One of the many hacked off crew
members.
W001511
Ash Chaos
I managed to get off my Talisman
installation yesterday and want to
bring to your attention just a couple of
points that are worthy of note. Our
flight was checking in at BRISTOW's
at 06.30hrs, but it did not arrive out
here until 15.40hrs (as usual no info re
what was the delay, so much for new
briefings!). We heard a rumour that the
BRISTOW's chopper pilots were
refusing to fly, but Scotia and Bond
flew a lot earlier?????? Also, the troops
got no help re their Medication? Some
of them ran out of medication 3 or 4
days after they were due off, but when
they reported it to the medic, all they
got was a lecture on how their
medication and their health is their
responsibility!!!!!! It was duly pointed

out to him that when we check in our

medication is taken from us and given
to the offshore medic, yet he says its
nothing to do with him!!!! And just to
top it all, a Top knob from Talisman
came out to the rig on the Wednesday
just before the delays started. He also
ran out of medication, but they
ordered stuff to be sent out on the next
available boat for him, without even
thinking to ask the rest of the crew if
they had any medication
requirements!! The behaviour of some
of these people in authority, people
that should be leading by example, just
beggars belief. There a lot of
unanswered questions out there.
Regards, M0104762
Walk to work? Not!
For the past 2 years BP have been
trialing what they call a Walk to
Work boat.
This was an old anchor handling
boat, converted into a kind of
accommodation vessel. The vessel sails
up to a satellite platform, it puts a
hydraulic gangway across that
connects to a pin on the platform, then
the maintenance crew (between 10 -26)
can walk from the boat to the
platform. It then sails away and comes
back to pick the crew up at the end of
the shift.
In its first year of operation out of 120
days of operation they managed to get
to the platforms and get hooked up
approximately 12 days. Apparently this
was due to teething problems and bad
weather, because it couldnt connect to
the platform if there was a swell over 2metre's. During this last year or so
theyve had a bit more success with
approximately 40-50 days.
Kitting this boat out and putting the
pins on the platforms allegedly cost BP
40 million over the 2-years. They
have now decommissioned that boat
and are apparently looking at having a
bigger boat built, but at what cost?
Two of the platforms they visit were
manned until 10 years ago, when we
were asked to rip everything out so
they would be inhabitable. These two
platforms could sleep up to 50-60
between them.
Since these platforms were demanned,
BP chose to have their satellite crews
living in a hotel on the beach. For the
3

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

NOK ER NOK

Letters
past 18 months we have been staying
at the Village Hotel in Hull at an
alleged cost of 70-80 a night each.
They have around 30-35 rooms
booked up here, but we will be looking
for more now since the boat was
decommissioned.
All up you have to wonder about the
thinking of shutting down installations
and moving to this idea. Somebody
somewhere is getting paid big bucks to
come up with this madness and how
much BP are losing on lost man hours
due to no fly days, bad weather, hotels
and everything else is anybodys guess!
Regards, D061876
Subsea7 Show Contempt
Sadly it does not surprise me that
Subsea7 choose to treat RMT with the
same contempt that they are showing
towards what has been a very
dedicated and committed workforce
over many years.
It disappoints me to see that the
present layer of upper management,
which has been in place for a relatively
short period of time, appear to have no
concept of the ill feeling and
despondency that their present policies
are generating amongst the workforce;
or simply do not care!
If they continue with this policy of
having little or no regard for the
workforce that make them a successful
company, then it will not be long
before they generate an attitude of
militancy, and will force workers to
take strike action to gain their
attention. Ignoring communications
from the workforce via OILC & the
RMT will not make the problem go
away.
The greater majority of the S7
workforce have no intention of
allowing S7 to displace them from
their jobs by Social Dumping, nor to
tacitly support S7 in the cynical
exploitation of Filipino workers on
extremely low wages and truly
dreadful contract terms.
These are good and hardworking
people struggling to support their
families and educate their children, it is
simply neither ethical nor morally
acceptable for S7, in their greed, to so
ruthlessly exploit them.
C932259
Subsea 7 ballot
4

www.oilc.org
Jake,
I and several other members were not
balloted, and I would be interested to
know how members were selected for
ballot.
I personally would not like to strike,
as I feel this would merely drive clients
away from SS7 to other ROV
companies, most of whom seem to
treat their employees even worse.
As for employing foreign workers,
most of Subsea7's operations are not in
the North Sea, so it's a bit rich us
complaining about foreign workers
when WE are the foreign workers most
of the time.
Regards,
M0118717
Apologies colleague, we have a job of
work to do sorting our data base to
identify people for referendums such as
the Subsea one. It was a good exercise
though, theres clearly support for the
creation of a ROV agreement. The
matter will now be discussed at
National level to determine the best
strategy for moving forward.
Jake Molloy, Regional Organiser.
Apache
In the P&J, 30/10/09, Apache
proudly boasted that production on
the Forties Field through July avereged
71,472 barrels per day. Taking an
average of $70 per barrel (it's been
nearer $80 for quite some time now),
that's $5,003,040 per day. It's widely
quoted on here that it costs $11 per
barrel to extract (that's all costs
incurred). That amounts to $786,192
per day. When you take away the
associated costs from the yield, it
amounts to $4,216,848 PER DAY
PROFIT
Why would Apache be wanting to
put folk on 3 on/3 off, and with no pay
rises (despite their own guys getting
4% backdated) on a cost cutting
exercise?
M0104379
OCA Bargaining

Will RMT/OILC be in the

negotiations for the 2010 pay and
conditions, or are we still lumbered
with the useless GMB and UNITE? I
think this is a stumbling block for
getting more members out here. I am
suffering a bit of bad moral at the
moment, but not for long as the job is
coming to an end. As for how many
bodies in the union out here? - not
many - maybe a handful. E is E goes
up on the notice boards but they soon
disappear. I don't know whether
someone's taking it for a read or
management is taking it down. I think
the problem on here is that the core
crew workers are on a decent salary
and the rest can go and f---k, and
recently the platform has just changed
hands and changes are imminent (cost
cutting?) and they are all frightened for
their jobs. Hope this is of some interest
to the rest of the workforce offshore.
M0106679
ESS
ESS are tightening the belts and we
had talk with Facilities Manager last
time out, and he informed us all that
Compass Group where looking to save
5% in the Shell business as a whole
and are asking us (The Poor Grafters)
for ideas on ways to do that! (what a
laugh) Not only are they not giving us
pay rise but asking us where we can
save even more money so that they
(biggest catering outfit anywhere) can
make even more profit.
ESS took over Shell contract about 2
years ago from Universal Sodexho and
promised that products used by them
(Mackies ice cream, LUX soaps,
Andrex toilet paper etc - all the brand
named products) would be included in
budget and would not be compromised
during term of contract.....OOPS
change of mind, THEY ARE NOW
going back to mass buying of cheapest
brands possible- because of the current
"Dredit Crunch", we will now be
using newspaper to wipe our bums
(HA- AGHH) Well maybe not! But not
far from it!
It never fails to amaze me the pure
brass neck of these
companies.....Asking the troops at the
front line, to leave off the bullet proof
vests (too expensive) and use the shite
bullets that cost less so that the top

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

brass has more cigars and port at the

Christmas do! (Excuse the sarcasm)
Although I don't know why this year
should be any different to all the others
I have worked offshore...(19yrs) .You
hear the same sob story every time...it
just so happens there is a credit crunch
to blame now, I have never been in the
situation where Management have told
staff,
Well done we made profits last year
so much so that we will be giving you
a wage increase above inflation rates
and a bonus for making us money this
year...
Oh no! Because that will eat into the
budget for next year and we will not
make so much of a profit (which will
be counted as a loss). Some office clerk
in accounts will be getting the boot!
NUFF SAID M0106166
Hungry and Grumpy!
Im on the Brent Alpha. I would like to
tell you about the food cuts here now.
We were told the budget for food was
getting cut, it wasnt a drastic cut. The
camp boss said 4.00 a man but I cant
confirm that. But for the last 5 trips we
are constantly running out of food. A
lot of times we are down to the last
drop. We took containers of food up
onto platform from the boat. After 1
day there was no milk no cheese no
juice, ketchup, hp none. We had
chicken just about every day, as there
was nothing else. This is happening on a
regular basis. The excuse from the camp
boss is that his back to back forgot to
put an order in. The chef says he is
embarrassed about it.
It has been brought up at welfare
meetings. The OIM has been informed
about it and nothing is done. It seems
to cause bickering in the crews. Not a
great advert for life offshore as regards
stress. The people on the Brent Alpha
are getting right fed up. You are better
fed in a prison.
M0103824
Right to strike?
I am at present floating as a sub eng
for Subsea 7. My last posting was West
Africa. I am in favour of strike action
to stand up for the rights of the mass
workforce. However I see problems
arising from the fact we work in small
unit.

NOK ER NOK

A: We can easily be substituted with

another squad.
B: Unless all members of the team on
board the vessel are union members
willing to take action then work will
progress unhindered and the efforts
undermined.
It will also mean if one of the team
refuses to work this will be reported to
the office and action will be taken
against this person. This does not have
to be termination of employment. They
have other means of making life hard the bad jobs in bad locations restricting work opportunities, ie
leaving people at home for long
periods or overworking them etc.
Strike action would only be relevant
if whole teams stand down and the job

www.rmt.org.uk
is affected as I believe happened in the
divers case. Otherwise we could just
hurt our position within the company
and also the company's reputation,
losing contracts to other ROV
Companies resulting in job losses for
SS7 employees anyway.
M0106386
A Big Thank You
Jake, just a few lines to say a big
thank you to all the team at
OILC/RMT. We spoke recently about
providing help to a colleague who was
called to a disciplinary hearing In
Aberdeen. The person concerned had
only recently re-joined OILC after
becoming frustrated by lack of support
from Amicus. Even though the timing
was very poor with Xmas/New Year
holidays, you and the team offered
support and advice prior to him
attending the meeting, and then
provided back up after when the
dispute was settled.
I have no doubt that your support in
helping resolve this issue resulted in a
different outcome at the hearing. The
member concerned had been told that
they were openly offering his job out

offshore. He has now returned to work

thanks to you and the team. Under
current circumstances in the North
Sea, with employers looking for any
excuse to sack people, investing 16 a
month in OILC/RMT membership will
be the best money they will ever spend.
Don't wait until you need help guys.
It may be too late. Join now and get
proper back up from a union prepared
to fight your corner.
Long term member M0104891
Subsea7's No1 asset
We have been discussing Subsea7s
silence. Some sort of response to the
open letter would be polite even if it
said Butt out peasants The general
opinion here is it was sneered at and
deleted. It makes me wonder if it was
received at the right level of
management. Did we fire it off to the
right person? Has it been sent to
someone who has actually got the balls
to reply? Has it been read at the
highest level?
If it was received by GHRM I actually
suspect we are taking pot shots at the
messenger! I really think the generals are
the ones we should be taking aim at.
Lets face it Mr Gibson is a mere SAP
number like the rest of us. It is clear to
anyone who has heard his rhetoric that
he has been told to get on the bus or
walk like the rest of the middle
management. (He has stated he was
disappointed that we felt we had to go
to the union and not speak to him direct,
Ha! This is from a man that replies with
one word e-mails!)
No, Gibbo is the wrong target; the
Executive Board call the shots and it is
them who we should have in our sights.
We should perhaps be looking at the
histories of these big boys, as we might
find we are not the first group of
workers to suffer loss of faith, company
moral and eventually jobs, under their
control. Maybe they've demonstrated
the bully boy attitudes before brought
on by greed to line their own pockets as
well as the shareholders.
I think actions like this should be
exposed, as I suspect some of these
people have just walked in off the golf
course and straight into the
Boardroom and offices of our once
proud, happy, successful and stable
company. I get the impression their

Letters
5

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

NOK ER NOK

Letters
sole intent is to maximise profits then
probably look to sell shares off at the
top of the market with an extremely
large pay off - if that's the case it is
deplorable! How dare any
management treat people this way! (By
all account the office staff live in terror
too) This threat culture is offensive and
has no place in 2010, especially in the
name of globalisation!
On that note, on my vessel alone over
the last 2 years we have seen more
than 24 different nationalities
represented on our team. That's
globalisation and is not the hiring of
slave labour!
I also know of a colleague who has
sent a polite and sincere letter to the
CEO of the company, yet despite the
CEO assurance that his door is always
open, it appears to have been slammed
shut as no reply has been received.
It is apparent the top dogs are hiding
behind a shield of threat delivered by
underlings who also fear for their
livelihoods. I hope that someone had the
courage to speak out on our behalf at
Decembers town hall meeting! And if
you did..? I hope you find work soon!
W003167
PSN
I started on the Alba in July in a longterm ad-hoc position, and asked my
company, PSN, why it is that guys who
are on the Chevron platforms working
for PSN, are getting day rates, whereas
I would be getting paid hourly. My
company did not give reasons why,
only that this came into effect in May
of this year. I wasn't best pleased so I
tried to take this up through the chain
to my Construction Manager on the
beach. He agreed that this undermined
the lads who started after May. To that
end, there was nothing he could do as
this was set in stone confirmed by HR.
To add insult to this, in September I
received a phone call at home on my
field break informing me, that I was on
my 30-day notice as Chevron were
reducing the construction campaign
right across all the Chevron asset's,
reducing the workforce by some 20
personnel. On return to the platform a
week later, I was told by colleagues
that guys going off the platform, had
been informed just 30 minutes before,
via a conference call from my
6

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company, that PSN were also on their
30 days notice.
In the meantime, my company had to
find me suitable work elsewhere. So a
few weeks later they asked if I would
like to attend an interview for work
commuting from Norwich. I was quite
taken aback - an interview for a job
when I already work for the company?
I could understand if it was for a
position in authority, but for working
on the tools? Come on! Nevertheless I
went to the interview at which I was
informed that I was unsuccessful for
the job. Reasons were not given in the
letter. To that end I am disgusted by
the depths PSN are now stooping to,
and the way they are treating their
staff. Companies are more and more
using this recession as an excuse to cut
cost and trim everywhere.
M0104051
UNITE
An open letter to Wullie Wallace
Unite officer in charge of offshore.
Dear Wullie,
Hoping you can clarify some points
in regards to this yeas OCA pay
negotiations. Having read a copy of
the letter that you circulated, there are
a number of issues that need to be
addressed.
1. What is the total number of
UNITE members who responded to the
"consultative ballot"?
2. Unite say they were prepared to
support industrial action. How can this
be done when you are signed up to a NO
DISRUPTION CLAUSE with the OCA?
3."We will continue to put pressure

on the employers at the negotiating

table". What type of pressure can you
apply when you have conceded that
you will not take industrial action?
4."A strong and vibrant union, with
active members, is the best means of
achieving better pay and conditions".
RMT/OILC already have this. Are
UNITE prepared to step down from
the OCA and let an offshore union
negotiate?
M0106185 (ex Amicus shop
steward).
Boys are alright
My main role is as a dive tech on
DSVs. I actually work through an
agency and I have had very little to
complain about over the last 5 1/2
years.
I used to work for ISS, but got so fed
up with the pettiness of the bosses
spending pounds to save pennies, and
always to my detriment, that I voted
with my feet. Within a week of joining
the agency I was on a far better rate
and better conditions than I had been
on the ISS project.
At present I am working for Technip,
and I understand I'll soon be working
for Subsea 7.
I occasionally get a gripe from some
of the lads I work with saying 'bloody
agency' but with most of the lads, I
have known them over the last 25 or
30 years and they would moan
anyway. By and large I have a good
working relationship with the people I
work with.
I am coming to the end of my career
now, but have, by and large found the
job quite rewarding. I take it seriously
and feel I normally have something
positive to add to any system. I do get
frustrated with the generally poor
regard 'the office' hold offshore
employees in. Quite often the only
people we have any dealings with are
the people organising flights for us.
I am slightly heartened by the training
some of the companies are offering.
On the other hand I think it is
probably because they have been
forced to do it due to the lack of a well
trained workforce to pick from in
general. That and the fact that several
of us are starting to hang up our rig
boots, or fall off the perch.
M0121359

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

NOK ER NOK

Inaugral Offshore Reps Course Report

he inaugural offshore RMT

representative course took place
in Newcastle from the 7th to the
11th Dec 2009, at Thompsons
solicitors, who had kindly provided all
the facilities for our reps.
The course was well attended with
delegates from different aspects of the
offshore industry, divers, drillers and
catering grades being represented. Jake
Molloy the RMT Regional Organiser
and Val Lockhart the management
representative from the Offshore
Diving Industry Agreement (ODIA)
that represents the seven employer
signatories to the agreement also took
part.
This particular session was
particularly lively, and, as you can
imagine, there were some very frank
exchanges. It has to be said though,
that Val and the ODIA signatories
welcome trade union involvement and
encourage employees to become reps.
Issues surrounding the Catering
Offshore Trading Agreement (COTA)
were also discussed.
Some of the subjects covered in the

by Greg Hewitt
course were; handling disciplines and
grievances, campaigning, the structure
of the union, and the RMT history.
Throughout the week delegates heard
speakers from various departments of
Thompsons who specialised in welfare
benefits, personal injury and
employment law.
Among other things, we were
interested to learn that our members
could use Thompsons for personal
injury claims, even though they had car
insurance they could waver the
personal injury part and use
Thompsons free for all the extended
family, and that members were also
covered in other countries for
industrial problems they might
encounter. They also have specialist
criminal lawyers.
Everyone enjoyed the week and here
are some of the comments that were
expressed by the representatives.
I was happy with the course. It did
exactly what I wanted it to, and
extended my knowledge.

It was informative and heavy going

at times but I learned a lot
I felt that we could have tailored it
even more towards offshore issues
where possible, but it was very
informative.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, in particular
the discussions with Jake (Molloy) and
Val (Lockhart) and the sessions with
the solicitors were really interesting.
It was laid back and relaxed but now
I know I am in at the deep end I will
have the information I need.
I enjoyed it and learned a lot. I
particularly enjoyed Geoff Revells
discussion on the history of the RMT.
I have been involved for over 20
years and I certainly realise now that
you never stop learning. The lawyers
were excellent. I will be encouraging
other to get involved and to get on this
course.
So the message to all you potential
union reps out there is GET
INVOLVED. If you want to take part
in a first stage reps course ask your
branch secretary or phone the union
direct on 01224 210 118.

Scchhuuu! Dont mention the fire!

O
n the 24th January a fire broke out on the
unmanned Chevron operated Erskine Platform.
There was no news regarding this matter, no public
statements or announcements, nothing. Four days later, on
Thursday 28th January, OILC/RMT received an anonymous
phone call from a non- member advising us there had been a
fire on Erskine. In fact the caller suggested the Erskine had
been destroyed. Before we could start to make enquiries
about this we started to receive calls from the press who, it
appears, had been tipped off by the same anonymous
caller.
Now the question we have to ask is; why did it take four
days for Chevron to say anything about this incident? Were
Chevron trying to hide the fact an incident had occurred,
hoping it would go unnoticed and they could avoid any
prying eyes or difficult questions? We dont know, but we do
know the industry talks about workforce involvement and
engagement and we repeatedly hear nowadays how more
open the industry is with information about near misses and
safety alerts. Not in this case though and even now the
troops on Chevron operations arent getting much feedback
on what went wrong.

After the initial interim investigation the HSE has

concluded that a carbon steel ring installed in a high
pressure gas process system, failed due to corrosion. This is
clearly a very concerning matter for OILC/RMT. Our
members could have been on the platform at the time and
when you hear statements from Chevron like the fire burnt
itself out you have to worry about what could have
happened if workers had been onboard undertaking
maintenance work. Where was the ignition source? Did the
deluge work? How did the ring become so corroded? And
on the last point, perhaps if there had been greater focus on
doing maintenance and inspection the incident might have
been avoided. We await the outcome of the HSE
investigation and hope that in the absence of a platform
safety committee, the findings will be shared with Safety
Reps and Safety Committees across Chevron operations.
Actions speak louder than words and clearly the actions of
Chevron in this case speak volumes about the attitude of
certain members of the Oil and Gas UK board. This union
will expose bad operators who pay lip service to safety and
we advise our members to report any safety breaches to this
Union so we can take whatever action is deemed necessary.
7

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

NOK ER NOK

Shell hit with HSE warning OCA Deal

over LEGIONELLA bacteria or no deal?
M
in drinking water

HELL has been issued with an Improvement Notice after the legionella
bacteria was found in 10 samples of drinking water in the same year on its
Clipper 48/19A platform off the UK
The samples were taken on seven different days and submitted by SHELL for
analysis under its normal water management system.
Shell were quoted in one paper as saying no-one had become ill and operations
were unaffected.
Its very comforting to know that no-one became ill and even more comforting
to hear that operations werent affected right! No, its not, its frightening to
think you could go to your work and potentially suffer serious ill-health or even
death, and not from any gas leak, fire or explosion, but from drinking a glass of
water before heading to bed! It is a downright disgrace that we should still be
suffering cases of this nature in this day and age, and the H.S.E should throw the
book at SHELL.
When issuing the Improvement Notice the Health & Safety Executive said that
Shell had failed to implement adequate control measures. The HSE gave Shell
until 30 June to comply with the notice.
And while were on the subject of water and Improvement Notices, we also dug
this one up:
Clyde Platform/ Talisman Improvement Notice
Control measures for potable water and risk of legionella - You have
failed to implement adequate control measures within your potable water
system to prevent and/or control the risk of exposure to legionella bacteria
to workers on the Clyde platform, as per the findings listed in reports dated
4-8 January 2008 and 2-5 February 2010 where you were found to have an
unsatisfactory risk management and control process for Legionella.
Have you got trouble with your water works? Let EiE know and well let
everyone else know!

embers have been

sending in copies of the
Memo put out by the
OCA regarding the OCA
Partnership Agreement for 2010 11. In the memo OCA talk about
offers and proposals but then
you get the line in bold writing
that states;
The following increase in rates
and allowances will take effect
from 1st April 2010 and remain in
force until 31st March 2011;
Take effect?? So is it an offer, or
a proposal, or are OCA imposing
this increase on us? As this EiE
goes to press were not sure, but
the Regional Organiser has been
asked to contact the partner
unions to try and find out and
well get a report from him in the
next Blowout. The reason were
not sure is some members of Unite
and GMB have been in touch to
say they are getting balloted on
this offer? So if theres a ballot
running, how can OCA say the
increases will take effect from
April 1st?
And on the subject of the offer, (if
it is an offer!); the memo says Cat
B rates will increase from 16.27
per hour to 16.58. To save you
all reaching for the calculators,
that works out at an increase of
1.9%. So after a pay freeze year
and a year when all enhancements,
uplifts and bonus payments were
wiped out meaning anything
between a 10% and 20% cut for
most, we get offered 1.9% when
the inflation rate is running higher
than 3% - unbelievable! Whats
the price of oil right now? And
what about the fact some of the
operators are still blocking OCA
holiday rights of 4-weeks?
Check out our web site at;
www.oilc.org where we will
inform members of the facts and
figures of this deal as soon as we
get them.