An offshore union has complained to global oil and gas industry engineering and construction company Subsea 7 about its use of foreign workers.
More than 200 RMT members have signed an open letter to Subsea 7’s bosses to complain the company has started replacing them with cheap foreign labour from the Philippines.
The letter says: “We thought we were loyal and valued employees. You have, at the stroke of a pen, started displacing us from our jobs, removed our livelihoods and given absolutely no thought to the consequences.
“You have stated that Subsea 7 is a global company and will employ labour from wherever it sees fit.
“Morale on Subsea 7 vessels is at rock bottom.”
RMT general secretary Bob Crow has also written to Subsea 7 to say his members’ letter clearly reflects their anger and disappointment.
He said: “We need to clarify and address your intentions with regards to members’ future employment and any plans you may have to replace them with cheap labour.”
Jake Molloy, regional organiser for the RMT union in Aberdeen, said yesterday it was difficult to put a number on the jobs at risk, but believed it could be about 16 to 20 on each Subsea 7 vessel. The company operates a fleet of 22 vessels.
He added that Subsea 7 had said no directly employed staff would lose jobs, but that subcontractors were losing work.
A spokeswoman for Subsea 7 at its Westhill base, near Aberdeen, said that the company had not yet officially received the letters and could not comment until it did so.
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