North Sea divers vote for strike action
RMT Union members working under the Offshore Diving Industry Agreement (ODIA) have voted in favour of strike action.
The union has called for two months of strike action from August 14 to October 14 but said it was open to reaching a settlement.
Other RMT members working as ‘dayraters’ at Boskalis Subsea Services, KD Marine, Subsea 7, and TechnipFMC UK also backed strike action.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that members pay had fallen behind in real terms in 2015 when they accepted not getting a pay rise in favour of protecting jobs during the downturn in oil and gas.
“During the same period, they sacrificed all but two bank holidays on the basis that this would redressed when things improved – this has never happened,” he said.
“According to some studies life expectancy for some commercial divers can be as low as 40 years with retirement or redeployment into lesser roles at the age of 50.
“The diving industry is extremely hazardous with life expectancy as low as 40 years, yet they have a measly £130k death in service benefit to protect their families should anything happen to them.
“The high turnout in favour of strike action sends a strong signal to the employers that our members are determined to achieve a negotiated settlement.”
Published: 06-08-2024
