RMT CALLS FOR GREEN NEW DEAL FOR OFFSHORE WORKERS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: july/august 2024 :: RMTnews 7 T he union marked the 36th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster in July, which killed 165 offshore workers and two seafarers when a catastrophic fireball that engulfed the platform on July 6, 1988. The North Sea tragedy led to the Cullen Inquiry, which concluded in late 1990, and the government had introduced new safety regulations in 1989. The disaster was caused by a flawed permit to work system. Workers injected condensate fluid into a pump, unaware a safety valve had been replaced with a non- leak-proof disk. The high- pressure fluid leaked, igniting a fire. In 1997, the UK offshore industry launched Step Change in Safety. Two years later, unions reported Shell for not complying with over 60 of Lord Cullen’s 106 recommendations. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that Piper Alpha still exposed the dangers of poorly regulated, profit-driven operators. “The loss of 167 workers led to crucial health and safety laws. As we mark this anniversary, RMT calls for a review of the offshore safety regime's effectiveness. "With rising profits, energy security issues, and safety maintenance backlogs, we need a strong safety representative structure. Workers’ voices must be heard to honour the legacy of Piper Alpha victims and ensure North Sea safety today. “We urge employers to allow workers to remember the 167 lost, especially in northeast Scotland. "On this anniversary, we call on ministers to honour Piper Alpha’s victims by fostering continuous offshore safety improvements,” he said. RMT has welcomed Labour's commitment to advancing worker protections in the energy sector, but that it must be part of a broader Green New Deal. Currently self-employed offshore workers face costs of up to £7,000 to obtain the necessary qualifications for both sectors, with no guarantee of employment. This issue affects thousands of workers in offshore engineering, diving, and seafaring roles, leading to financial strain and job insecurity. Labour announced that it would introduce a skills passport, protect offshore jobs and ensure workers can transition to a greener energy sector in the future.   The skills passport, originally outlined in the UK government’s 2021 North Sea Transition Deal, aims to facilitate employment opportunities for offshore workers by aligning training and certification standards between the oil, gas, and renewable (wind) sectors. This commitment came about due to sustained pressure from RMT, other offshore unions, and pro-worker green groups, who highlighted the misalignment of current training standards. Despite the setbacks, renewable and oil and gas employers reaffirmed their commitment to the digital skills passport last month. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch welcomed Labour's commitment to supporting offshore workers through the digital skills passport. "However, this initiative must be integrated into a broader, ambitious Green New Deal. "The protection of oil and gas workers’ jobs, along with the preservation and enhancement of their skills and livelihoods, must be central to this vision. "Only through such comprehensive measures can we ensure a just transition for all workers. “RMT stands ready to work with the new government to ensure that the digital skills passport becomes a reality, benefiting offshore workers and contributing to a fair and sustainable future for the energy sector,” he said. PIPER ALPHA DISASTER 36 YEARS ON RMT CALLS FOR GREEN NEW DEAL FOR OFFSHORE WORKERS Union welcomes planned introduction of skills passport for offshore energy workers