Dispute over below inflation pay offers and threats to withhold backpay
Unite, the UK’s largest offshore union, is balloting approximately 160 offshore workers employed by North Sea operator Apache on strike action.
The company has made an offer which is a real terms pay cut for many workers, ranging from a pay freeze to below inflation increases.
The workers involved in the dispute include electrical, instrument, mechanical and production technicians alongside telecoms technicians and radio operators. The strike action ballot covers workers on seven Apache assets associated with the Forties and Beryl oil fields.
Apache has also set arbitrary deadlines for reaching an agreement over back pay and indicated that the payment may be withheld if these are not met. This could leave members thousands of pounds out of pocket.
The ballot opens tomorrow (3 September) and closes on 1 October. Strike action could begin by mid-October.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Apache is treating our offshore members with contempt by making offers which are effective pay cuts. That is unacceptable especially as its parent group is making massive profits. The Apache workers will have Unite’s full support in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.'
Apache North Sea Production Limited is part of the APA Corporation with the parent company recently recording $1.7 billion net cash provided by operating activities in the second quarter of 2026 - equivalent to £1.25 billion. APA also generated a net profit after tax of £1.3 billion from revenue of £6.6 billion in 2025.
Unite industrial officer Stevie Davies, said: 'Apache has refused to meaningfully negotiate with Unite. It has behaved in a hostile way by proposing real terms cuts to pay and threatening to remove back pay with arbitrary deadlines. We have been left with no option but to ballot for strike action. Our Apache members are prepared to fight, and they will get every support necessary in this dispute.'
Source: Unite
