Unite union announced plans for potential strike action by North Sea oil workers employed by Apache, a Texas-based oil company operating in the region. The union stated that workers voted to support industrial action after rejecting what they characterized as an insufficient pay offer, particularly given the company’s substantial financial performance.
Apache reported $1.4 billion in after-tax profits and $9.2 billion in revenues for the previous year. The union indicated the company set deadlines for resolving back pay disputes and suggested employee compensation could be withheld. In response, Apache maintained it had engaged constructively in negotiations and offered a 4 percent pay increase to workers whose compensation already ranks among the highest in the United Kingdom, with offshore staff working approximately 153 days annually.
Strike action could commence later this month and potentially involve over 160 Apache workers across various technical roles. The industrial action would target the Forties and Beryl oilfields, with potential impacts on the Charlie platform. The Forties pipeline system reportedly transports approximately one-third of the UK’s oil and gas supply. Unite warned that disruptions could extend to other major North Sea operators.
The timing compounds existing pressures on UK fuel supplies. Diesel prices recently reached record levels at £2 per litre, and global crude markets face disruption from regional geopolitical tensions. G7 leaders announced plans to release emergency stockpiles of diesel and crude oil. Apache stated it maintains contingency plans and anticipated minimal broader impacts on other operators, emphasizing commitment to safe operations during any industrial action.
A previous dispute involving Neo Next offshore workers, also represented by Unite, was resolved this summer after workers secured a pay package increase exceeding £4,000, preventing strikes scheduled for late July.
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