Scottish energy service firm Dron and Dickson (D&D) yesterday defended its decision to push for a second round of pay cuts in less than a year for its offshore workers.
D&D, a specialist in the design, supply and maintenance of hazardous-area electrical equipment, blamed the move on the oil and gas price rout and said it hoped pay cuts would prevent job losses.
Union bosses said they would try to convince the firm to drop its proposals, which were labelled “disgusting” by staff members.
In a letter seen by the Press and Journal, the firm said it would look to reduce rates by 5% and lower standby pay to “field break” level, which is thought to be about £22.50 a day.
Colin Maver, group director of D&D, which has Scottish offices in Aberdeen and Stirling, said in the letter that 57 offshore employees would be affected by the proposed changes.
Workers who wished to remain anonymous said last summer’s wage slashing saw the company cut rates by 10% and lower standby pay to about £9 an hour.
D&D said yesterday in a statement: “We confirm that a further staff consultation is currently underway to which an official from Unite was invited to attend. Last year’s consultation successfully avoided any job cuts and we sincerely hope to repeat this again.
“This is a direct result of the very low oil price and the need to take costs out of the supply chain. We are not the first company to consult with staff and we will not be the last.”
Unite regional officer Willie Wallace, who attended the first consultation meeting on Monday, said D&D’s proposed changes were severe.
Mr Wallace said yesterday: “These employees took a hit last year and now the company is coming back to attack terms and conditions, which I think is unreasonable.
“There will be a consultation period for us to feed our concerns back to the company and we hope that might change something.
“There was a consultation last year but the company pushed through its changes, now here we are again.”
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