North Sea Helicopter Pilots Consider Strike Action
Pilots of North Sea helicopters are considering strike action following hundreds of redundancies in the industry.
Over a third of helicopter pilots operating in the North Sea gathered in Aberdeen last night at a Balpa meeting.
There they heard an update on the negotiations over planned redundancies due to the dramatic fall in the price of oil
Workers then expressed their fears on safety in the sector, and they supported for BALPA to run a ballot for strike action.
BALPA General secretary Jim McAuslan said:
“Pilots know that jobs will be lost; but there is a right way and a wrong way of doing it and the helicopter companies need to know that we will not accept their approach. We want decent voluntary terms to attract willing victims, more part time working options to save jobs and objective and transparent redundancy selection criteria, which pay proper regard to flying experience - a critical factor in maintaining safety off shore.
“Pilots have also expressed anger at those higher up the supply chain that are exploiting the crazy competition and have called on Government to knock heads together.
“For pilots safety is our number one priority and there is a fear that these redundancies may lead to corners being cut and pilots flying when their focus is not 100% on task.
"Overall the redundancies are bad for employees, bad for business, bad for the UK economy and bad for safety.
“We will now hold an indicative ballot to ask members if they are willing to take strike action. This will close on Tuesday 18th August.”