Apache workers’ strike threat could disrupt supplies from North Sea oilfields
Oil workers in the North Sea could strike later this month after negotiations between the Unite union and Apache broke down over pay. The union claims Apache's 4% pay offer amounts to a real-terms pay cut for employees at a time when the company reported £1.1bn in after-tax profits. This matters because such industrial action could severely disrupt UK fuel supplies.
The proposed strike would involve more than 160 Apache offshore workers and could affect the Forties and Beryl oilfields. The Forties pipeline system handles almost a third of the UK's oil and gas, and Unite claims the industrial action could bring critical platforms to a standstill. The timing is critical because motorists already face record diesel prices of £2 per litre, partly caused by geopolitical tensions disrupting crude oil supplies from the Gulf.
- North Sea oil workers at Apache could strike this month over pay
- Strike could severely disrupt UK fuel supplies and key North Sea pipelines
- Timing is critical as diesel prices hit record £2 per litre
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Oil workers at Apache's North Sea platforms are considering strike action after the company rejected union demands for higher pay. The Unite union represents more than 160 offshore workers and argues that Apache's 4% pay offer amounts to a real-terms pay cut. Apache reported substantial profits last year, which the union says should allow the company to offer better wages.
The potential strike is significant because it could disrupt some of the UK's most vital oil and gas production. The Forties oilfield and its pipeline system supply nearly a third of British oil and gas. If these platforms shut down due to strike action, it could cause fuel shortages and higher energy costs for households and businesses.
This comes at a time when fuel prices are already high across the UK, partly due to geopolitical tensions that have disrupted crude oil supplies elsewhere. Any additional disruption to North Sea production would worsen this situation.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Workers and their union are justified in rejecting a 4% offer that represents a real-terms pay cut when Apache has reported £1.1bn in after-tax profits. Those in dangerous offshore roles deserve compensation that reflects both company performance and the demands of their work. When a profitable employer fails to match inflation or properly reward its workforce, collective action is a legitimate exercise of workers' rights to secure fair treatment.
The case against
Whilst workers have genuine grievances, a strike would inflict severe damage on UK energy security at an already precarious moment, with motorists facing record diesel prices amid geopolitical supply disruptions. A 4% nominal raise, though modest, still represents growth. The company must balance worker demands against broader economic consequences and the long-term viability of North Sea operations in a challenging market. Industrial action disrupting critical infrastructure ultimately harms ordinary families struggling with energy costs, not just shareholders.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Strikes by North Sea oil workers could ‘severely disrupt’ UK fuel supplies”.