Union warns industrial disruption could bring down Forties pipeline
Unite, the UK’s largest offshore union, can confirm 24-hour strike action by over 160 Apache offshore workers is set to take place this week, as the union warns UK fuel supplies could be ‘severely disrupted’.
The strike action will start at 06.00 hours on Wednesday 21 October and ends at 05.59 on Thursday 22 October.
There are seven Apache assets associated with the Forties and Beryl oil fields set to be impacted by the industrial disruption.
Apache workers emphatically backed strike action in the escalating pay dispute after workers rejected an offer from the operator which amounts to a real terms pay cut for many workers, ranging from a pay freeze to below inflation increases.
The operator has set deadlines for reaching an agreement over back pay, and indicated payments may be withheld which would leave workers potentially thousands of pounds out of pocket.
Unite can confirm that talks with the conciliation service Acas are scheduled prior to Wednesday’s action, but the union is warning that Apache has shown ‘no willingness’ to resolve the dispute ahead of the 24-hour strike action.
If there is not sufficient progress made in talks to potentially avert strike action, Unite has repeated its warning that industrial disruption could lead to the critical Charlie platform being brought to a standstill. The scenario could result in a lack of pressure that can lead to the entire Forties Pipeline System (FPS) going down.
It is estimated that over 80 offshore fields and the St Fergus gas plant flow through pipelines into the FPS. The system operated by Ineos is reported to handle approximately 29 per cent of the UK's oil and 30 per cent of its gas.
The union can confirm that a further 24-hour period of strike action is also scheduled to start from 06.00 on 4 November 2026 until 05.59 on 5 November.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Apache is part of a global company which is making billions of pounds in profit. They can easily afford to resolve this dispute without even a dent in their profits by making an acceptable offer to our members. The fact is Apache has so far chosen not to do this which is putting UK fuel supplies at risk. That is reckless behaviour and it is driven by shameful corporate greed.'
The Apache workers involved in the dispute include electrical, instrument, mechanical and production technicians alongside telecoms technicians and radio operators.
Apache North Sea Production Limited is part of the APA Corporation with the parent company in August reporting $1.7 billion of net cash provided by operating activities or approximately £1.25 billion, and $738 million of free cash flow or approximately £558m.
Unite industrial officer Stevie Davies, said: 'Talks are set to take place with the conciliation service Acas prior to the 24-hour strike action. We want these talks to be successful but we are not hopeful because Apache has shown no willingness to resolve this dispute.'
'Many of our members have been offered a real terms pay cut – and that is unacceptable for an extremely profitable oil and gas operator.'
'We have repeatedly warned that any action could lead to a material disruption in the Forties Pipeline. This could severely affect the UK’s fuel supplies. Apache not only don’t seem to care for their workers, but they have shown no concern for other operators and consumers.'
Apache platforms set to be impacted by industrial action are Forties Alpha, Forties Bravo, Forties Charlie, Forties Delta, Forties Echo, Beryl Alpha & Beryl Bravo offshore platforms.
Source: Unite
