Union hailed the ‘New way forward’ as members vote to agree landmark ESA agreement
The 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.
GMB 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), is a ground breaking new collective agreement for thousands of engineering and maintenance workers in the North Sea.
GMB and sister offshore trade unions began a 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.
This new agreement marks the start of a new way forward, ensuring fair work and better terms and conditions for our members offshore.
Ross Murdoch, GMB National Officer
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.”
