There’s a wave revolt brewing on the rigs (Picture: Icatha Energy media)
About 70 workers employed by TotalEnergies SE in its oil and gas operations in the North Sea are being balloted over strikes. The Unite union members are the latest to join the wage revolt on the rigs.
The workers are based on the Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn platforms and the Shetland gas-processing plant. There are two ballots, both closing on 5 May.
The vote by Total workers follows decisions by other union members to proceed with walkouts. About 150 workers from contractor Sparrows Offshore Services started struck for 48 hours from 5 April, the first in a series of nine walkouts stretching into June, according to Unite.
Two more 48-hour strikes are scheduled for this month, starting on Wednesday of this week and April 26. And a 72-hour walkout on 10 May. More than 20 oil and gas platforms will be affected
Separately, a further 1,350 contractors are set to go on strike from next Monday 24 April until 26 April.
This action will “bring the offshore installations of major oil and gas operators to a standstill,” Unite said. Those workers service platforms owned by BP Plc, Shell Plc and TotalEnergies SE.
Simon Basketter
Waste management workers in Canterbury in Kent are being balloted for strikes after the bosses hit them with a shoddy pay deal.
The workers, who are outsourced to Canenco by the council, are demanding a 30 percent pay increase to compensate for real terms pay cuts in the last decade. Bosses are currently refusing to negotiate with the GMB union. The ballot was to open on Friday of this week and run for two weeks
Refuse workers in Wealden, east Sussex, have voted overwhelmingly to restart their strikes for decent pay. An impressive 90 percent of workers voted to strike on a 75 percent turnout.
The refuse workers struck for seven weeks last year to demand better pay. The GMB union said the eventual deal constituted a 27 percent rise for some workers.
But some workers weren’t as convinced by the deal and said it fell short of what they originally asked. The Amberstone depot in Wealden was also where the police arrested three trade union officials for blocking roads in a shocking show of anti-trade union repression.
Activists across England campaigned against fascists Britain First who are running for seats in the upcoming 4 May local council elections.
In the Swanscombe ward of Dartford in Kent, over 20 Stand Up To Racism activists handed out some 1,000 leaflets against Britain First’s leader Paul Golding. Nick Scanlon, who was previously in the BNP and Patriotic Alternative, is also running in Dartford.
Some 20 SUTR activists also campaigned in New Milton in the New Forest against Nick Lambert who is also standing for Britain First. And in Salford on Sunday anti-racists and anti-fascists held a mass leafleting campaign against Britain First’s Ashlea Simon.
Some 100 Unite union members who are employed by construction contractor Kaefer Limited are striking for 12 weeks at the Rosyth dockyard near Edinburgh.
The workers, including painters, cleaners, scaffolders and support staff walked out on Monday and were set to be out until 10 July. They voted 98 percent in favour of strikes after a below-inflation pay offer.
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Bus workers rejected an offer and came back out
