The GMB union has hailed the ‘New way forward’ as members vote to
agree the landmark ESA agreement for thousands of North Sea Oil
and Gas workers.
The union has praised the new ESA agreement as ‘a great example
of collaborative working’ as its members have voted to back the
landmark deal.
The new Energy Services Agreement (ESA), a groundbreaking new
collective agreement for thousands of engineering and maintenance
workers in the North Sea. [1]
GMB and sister offshore trade unions began campaigning for a new
deal back in early 2020 immediately after notice was given to
terminate the old arrangement which ended on 31 December 2020.
Currently, 14 major North Sea Employers have all confirmed that
they are willing to join the agreement and this ballot result
means GMB members have endorsed being part of this agreement.
The union believe that the deal will benefit North Sea workers by
providing an equal footing in to negotiate pay, terms &
conditions, and health, safety and welfare standards.
Ross Murdoch, GMB National Officer, said:
“This new agreement marks the start of a new way forward,
ensuring fair work and better terms and conditions for our
members offshore.
“We can now see the deal has wide support and is a great example
of collaborative working between unions, contracting companies,
and operators to help ensure the security of the offshore energy
industry for many years to come.
“This new agreement will help to improve the terms and conditions
for our members offshore and we will use it to lobby hard for
other contractors outside the ESA to join and improve working
conditions in the North Sea for all their workers.”
