More than half (55%) of UK offshore workers believe the future of their industry is in doubt without government help, a survey has found.
Unite the union said yesterday its research among nearly 800 people working offshore also showed 24% of them saw no future at all for the sector.
Nearly all workers – more than 95% – said the Scottish and UK governments were not doing enough to support the beleaguered industry, which has shed tens of thousands of jobs since the onset of a severe downturn.
And nearly 90% supported Unite’s call for Holyrood and Westminster to buy stakes in vital offshore infrastructure such as pipelines or platforms.
Unite Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty said: “The message from our members and other offshore workers in this survey is clear – unless government starts to come up with some new thinking for the oil and gas industry, the future is looking very bleak.
“We have made repeated calls for a summit to bring together energy companies, trade unions, the Scottish Government and the UK Government, so that we can start planning for the future. It’s never happened, and we just can’t understand why.”
Mr Rafferty said the union had also repeatedly called on the two governments to consider using their borrowing powers to take out public stakes in new offshore infrastructure, and to help protect existing equipment that might otherwise be decommissioned.
He added: “We believe public stakes would encourage companies to also invest, supporting jobs and creating returns for the public purse in the future.
“We are in the middle of a crisis and, unless there is action soon, we could be approaching a point of no return.
“That would be devastating for the Scottish economy, particularly in the north-east.
“Our members are clear – to protect their livelihoods and skills we need government action now.”
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