The chief executive of Wood Group has said the company is “hugely disappointed” after failing to reach a resolution with unions to bring strike action to an end.
It comes as a 48-hour strike was announced to take place next week across a number of Shell assets in the North Sea.
Workers and Wood Group are in dispute over changes to pay and conditions.
Dave Stewart, chief executive for Wood Group’s eastern region business unit, said: “We are hugely disappointed that the significant movements we have made to reach a resolution have clearly not been acknowledged by the unions.
“I must stress, none of our employees are being offered terms and conditions below the Offshore Partnership Agreement, agreed by the unions only this year; nor will they be. The majority of our employees will still be paid significantly above these terms and conditions.
“Safeguarding these jobs in the North Sea now and in the future against the backdrop of an extremely challenging economic climate, remains our firm commitment. It is estimated that 120,000 jobs will be lost in the UK by the end of 2016 due to the prolonged low oil price.
“We believe safeguarding jobs should be a mutual goal shared by the unions and we would encourage them to work with us to realign the cost base, if we are to sustain this mature industry and employment opportunities long into the future. There is a responsibility on all of us in this industry to create a competitive cost base in line with the Oil and Gas Authority’s strategy for maximising economic recovery (MER).
“Wood Group’s focus does not change. We remain committed to continuing to engage openly with our employees and the unions to reach a resolution.
“Our employees’ safety and wellbeing remains our priority and our commitment is to ensuring this is not compromised by this extended period of industrial action.”
