Composite S (covering Amended Motions 7 & 8)
Oil & Gas Workers
“That this Congress welcomes that, as a result of campaigning by affiliates, the UK government has made some progress in developing a plan for offshore oil and gas workers, divers and seafarers working in the industry. This includes:
- Making National Minimum Wage as the wage floor for seafarers working on offshore wind farms in Scottish or UK waters;
- ·Employment tribunal and working time rights extended across the North Sea;
- Trade union seats on the Board implementing the Future of the North Sea Plan; and
- Fair Work Charter conditions in ScotWind projects.
“Congress is concerned however that this is a drop in the ocean compared to action needed to stop job losses.
“Congress recognises the announced closure of the Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran, preceded by the closure of the Grangemouth refinery and continued haemorrhaging of offshore jobs, as driven by the prioritisation of shareholder profits and the egos of politicians without an industrial strategy.
“Congress notes that RMT alone have handled redundancy consultations affecting over 800 offshore workers since 2023 which doesn’t include unfilled vacancies and merging two jobs into one, particularly common amongst offshore caterers.
“Congress further notes that the culture of massive profits and dividends continues amongst multi-nationals and employers in the Energy Services and other collective agreements covering Scotland’s offshore oil and gas workforce. For example, shareholders in Bilfinger Salamis and Aker Solutions have received nearly £1 billion in dividends and share buybacks whilst making Scottish oil and gas workers redundant.
“Congress believes that since the Covid pandemic, the world has entered an era of political turbulence and economic uncertainty where the allies and supply chains we once relied upon can no longer be; and believes that to ensure our national and energy security and to maximise the economic benefits to workers, we must increase domestic production and self-reliance rather than relying on imports from abroad.
“Congress recognises that gas central heating accounts for approximately 80% of home heating systems which are installed, serviced and supplied by a high skilled and well-paid workforce; further recognises that the many industrial and domestic uses for oil and gas – especially in supplying affordable home heating – will exist for years to come; and notes that Scottish homes are poorly insulated leading to higher energy use and costs.
“Congress calls on:
- The UK Government to support a fully publicly owned Scottish and UK oil and gas industry to continue exploration and extraction of oil and gas in Scottish and UK waters FOR so long as there is a domestic need for both and a just transition for renewables is installed with guaranteed jobs and protection of pay and conditions for the offshore workforce;
- Both the Scottish and UK Governments to attach strict conditions to any public money on new sites in Grangemouth and Mossmorran, such as trade union recognition and membership of existing national bargaining frameworks; and
- All political parties to commit to a nation-wide programme to insulate Scotland’s homes - a prerequisite for any alternative home heating system – street by street, starting in the areas of highest deprivation in order to reduce emissions from gas boilers and exorbitant energy costs.”
“Congress further agrees to continue campaigning for:
- portability of skills and pay across oil, gas and offshore renewables via joint negotiating machinery, funded training guarantees, and minimum crewing levels and safety standards on all offshore assets, to stop a race to the bottom during transition;
- Guaranteed employment and protection of jobs and conditions;
- An offshore safety culture of continuous improvement; and
- Extending collective bargaining agreements in the oil and gas sector including the Energy Services Agreement, Offshore Diving Industry Agreement and the Catering Offshore Trade Agreement to workers in the offshore renewable industry and associated supply chains. “
Mover: GMB
Seconder: National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT)
Supporters: Nautilus
Supporters: Moray TUC
RSS