Unite says Apache offshore workers back strike that could disrupt Forties pipeline

The Unite union says more than 160 offshore workers at the US energy company Apache have backed strike action over pay. The union says a strike could take place this month and could disrupt the North Sea Forties pipeline system, which carries UK oil and gas supplies. The Guardian and Reuters both reported the union's statement. Neither outlet gives ballot figures.

Apache said in a statement quoted by The Guardian that it has made what it calls a final pay offer. It said it has contingency plans and plans to maintain safe operations during any industrial action.

Unite made its statement on Sunday, according to Reuters. According to The Guardian, Unite says the workers include electrical experts, production technicians and radio operators. The union says any action would affect the Forties and Beryl oilfields.

The Guardian reports that the Forties system handles almost a third of the UK's oil and gas, without naming the source of that figure. Reuters describes it as a major conduit for UK supplies. Ineos operates the system. The Guardian says it contacted Ineos for comment, and its report does not include a response.

Apache North Sea Production's parent, Texas-based APA Corporation, reported $1.4bn (£1.1bn) in after-tax profits on $9.2bn in revenues last year, according to The Guardian. The newspaper also reports that the average UK diesel price has reached a record £2 a litre.

What is disputed

• The wider impact. Unite says action could bring a platform known as Charlie to a standstill and could ultimately lead to the entire Forties system "going down", affecting other operators. Apache says it does not expect a strike to affect other producers. It says any reduction in pipeline pressure would be similar to that during routine maintenance outages.
• The pay offer. Unite says the offer is unacceptable and amounts to a real-terms pay cut for many employees. Apache says its 4% increase is fair and matches the rise given to non-unionised staff earlier this year.

What each side says

The Guardian quoted Unite general secretary Sharon Graham as saying: "We will not tolerate unacceptable pay offers." It quoted Unite industrial officer Stevie Davies as saying a strike "would have a direct hit on the Forties pipeline and potentially severely affect the UK’s fuel supplies". Unite also says Apache set deadlines over back pay and indicated payments could be withheld.

Apache said it "engaged constructively throughout the pay discussions", according to The Guardian. It described the workers as staff "whose earnings already place them among the highest earners in the UK and whose offshore rota averages 153 working days a year".

What the reports do not include

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not give strike dates, the union's own pay demand, or an independent assessment of the likely impact. They do not include an Apache response on the back-pay claim.

Analysis

The outcome depends on factors the reports do not settle. If talks resume, a settlement is possible: The Guardian reports that Unite called off planned strikes at Neo Next this summer after a deal reached days before action was due to start. If a strike goes ahead, its reach is contested. Unite describes possible system-wide disruption, while Apache describes an effect comparable to routine maintenance. No independent assessment is available to test either claim, and the pipeline operator's view is absent. The dispute comes as UK fuel prices are high, according to The Guardian, which may increase attention on any disruption.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.