In an exclusive interview ahead of his March retirement, the chair of the Offshore Co-ordinating Group of UK trade unions reflects on a 44-year career, noting a unique development in 2025 where unions and employers united to oppose UK government policies for the North Sea oil and gas sector.

Government Policy and Industry Impact

The current government, elected in July 2024, mandated a ban on new oil and gas exploration and the retention of the Energy Profits Levy (EPL) through to 2030. These policies are condemned by the industry for negatively impacting investment and employment. The union chair states that the EPL's retention has clear knock-on effects, leading operators to make redundancies, take on fewer projects, and reduce offshore staffing levels.

Union Career and Early Advocacy

The chair's union involvement began at age 17 as an apprentice electrical engineer, influenced by a family belief in unions. Early in his apprenticeship, he challenged cost-cutting measures that extended apprenticeships, driven by a desire to secure better conditions for colleagues. His formal union leadership began around 20 years ago as a shop steward within the NHS, later rising to Branch Secretary at Amicus (now part of Unite) before relocating to Aberdeen in 2015.

Baptism of Fire: The 2016 Downturn

Shortly after starting as a Unite regional officer in Aberdeen, he was dispatched to Shetland to manage a mass redundancy process during one of the industry's biggest downturns. The 2016 crude price crash, which saw prices dip below $30 per barrel, led to widespread cuts, with the chair involved in over 2000 redundancies that year. He describes this period as "perhaps the lowest point" of his career, noting the mental toll of frequent redundancy meetings and the loss of young workers from the industry.

Evolution of Negotiations and Union Recognition

Annual pay negotiations have been a key part of his role, with talks becoming substantially easier since the adoption of the Energy Services Agreement in 2021. This collective agreement covers around 6000 contractors across several unions and companies. While Unite traditionally represented only service company employees, it has recently gained official recognition from several major operators like NeoNext, Equinor, CNOOC Petroleum Europe, and TotalEnergies, and is working on deals with others. This shift is attributed to operator employees feeling more vulnerable due to cuts and seeking union protection.

Safety Concerns and Industrial Action

A central priority is ensuring workers return home safely, but he now voices serious concerns, describing offshore safety as at one of the "lowest points" he has ever seen. He cites Health & Safety Executive warnings, enforcement notices, and reduced scope of summer maintenance shutdowns as evidence. A career highlight was supporting Wood Group employees in 2017 who successfully fought proposed pay and benefits cuts of up to 30% through offshore strikes and union mobilization, an action he describes as particularly challenging and impactful.

The North Sea's Uncertain Future and Legacy

He expresses pessimism about the North Sea's future, contrasting current job losses—expected to hit the equivalent of 1000 per month through to 2030—with past cycles tied to oil prices. He argues government policy is now driving early decommissioning, meaning lost jobs are gone for good, and describes the situation as "the beginning of the end," with visible economic decline in Aberdeen. Despite government adjustments to allow some new licensing for tie-backs, he views this as insufficient. Retiring in March, his advice to his successor is to pace oneself, noting that the constant flow of work must be balanced with the reward of making a difference.