Offshore Holidays

[Henry]

A claim that offshore workers are entitled to extra paid leave has been rejected by the Supreme Court.

 

Unions have been fighting for many years for paid leave for workers who spend two weeks on platforms before having a two-week rest.

 

The industry has maintained that time they spend at home forms part of their legally-entitled four weeks' holiday.

 

Unions argued that was not the case under the working time directive. They may now consider industrial action.

 

Malcolm Webb, chief executive of industry body Oil and Gas UK, said: "Oil and Gas UK is very pleased that the highest UK Court, the Supreme Court, has upheld the previous rulings of the Court of Session and Employment Appeal Tribunal.

 

"Time off work enjoyed by UK offshore oil and gas workers more than meets the minimum legal amount of annual leave that employers must provide their employees.

 

"Typical rotas worked offshore allow for over 26 weeks onshore, away from work, more than meeting the requirement of the Working Time Directive to provide 5.6 weeks' annual leave."

 

'Slap in face'

Jake Molloy, of the RMT union, described the decision as a "real slap in the face" and said members would decide what action, if any, they would take next.

 

He told BBC Scotland: "The legal fight has finished. We can now look at a different type of fight.

 

"That will be for the members to decide. If that is strike, then so be it."

 

Thoughts? I'm particularly interested in our resident offshore expert cheesepipes' view.

[BrianFaePerth]

Eh always thought going offshore was a holiday?

[Dandyesque]

Thoughts? I'm particularly interested in our resident offshore expert cheesepipes' view.

 

 

I have a few.

 

1) They get plenty of time off - and are well paid as well.

 

2) My evenings off do not get counted towards my annual leave entitlement - why should theirs?

 

3) What about time in lieu for weekends / bank holidays?

 

Bit of a mixed bag, I reckon - some points I'd agree with the additional leave argument, others I wouldn't.

 

Definitely less of a case than the Unison members - but then I considered them to have an excellent case

[RUL]

Think it's the right decision

[Henry]

One thing I would add - I worked on a temporary basis for Northlink on various occasions. The permanently employed crew on their ships get additional leave on top of their 'two weeks'. I assume this is the case across the board for shipping companies in the UK.

[redsparrow]

Its a job many of us choose, yes the money is good but for myself at least the carrot is the time off. I feel they should be wary of rocking the boat so to speak.

 

If it aint broke dont try fixing it. Right decision IMO.

[The Boofon]

Its a job many of us choose, yes the money is good but for myself at least the carrot is the time off. I feel they should be wary of rocking the boat so to speak.

 

If it aint broke dont try fixing it. Right decision IMO.

 

I agree.

42 hour week on average for offshore workers doing a 12 hour day.

 

Your time worked offshore is far more than an onshore job but as pointed out you get the time off as compensation.

 

 

It'll be interesting to see if companies now change back to equal time rotations from 2/3 due to this ruling as many started 2/3 because of the WTD.

 

Interesting times ahead.

 

On a side note Jake Malloy is a bawsack bag of wind and I don't think I've ever witnessed him stating anything that has actually come to fruition.

 

A socialist fruitloop.

[tup]

Get it right ye to the 'chosen ones', Hollywood scaffolders.

[hopeisimportant]

They work less than half the year and want more time off? Paid?

 

Lazy, workshy Buffoons!

[tainboy]

Get it right ye to the 'chosen ones', Hollywood scaffolders.

WTF does that actually mean?

[terenceandphilip]

to my mind a regular 2 and 2, if your lucky enough to have such a job, is miles better than the 9-5 with 4 weeks annual leave.

 

26 weeks off a year is a damn site better than 4.

[brownie]

to my mind a regular 2 and 2, if your lucky enough to have such a job, is miles better than the 9-5 with 4 weeks annual leave.

 

The difference being that a 9 - 5 means you are in you're own bed every night.

[terenceandphilip]

I'd rather be on a platform half the time. You don't spend any money, no distractions, washing and cooking done for you.

 

26 weeks off isn't a bit better than 4 is it? Its astronomically better.

[Old Wing Stand]

Can't see that there will be a strike over this, last big strike or sit in as it became in the North Sea achieved nothing

[Bluto10]

I'd rather be on a platform half the time. You don't spend any money, no distractions, washing and cooking done for you.

 

26 weeks off isn't a bit better than 4 is it? Its astronomically better.

 

how do holidays / time off work? can you pick and choose?

 

9-5 for me is ace.

 

i can do what i want when i get home. i can take holidays when i choose.

[The Boofon]

I'd rather be on a platform half the time. You don't spend any money, no distractions, washing and cooking done for you.

 

26 weeks off isn't a bit better than 4 is it? Its astronomically better.

 

 

Devil's Advocatt being played here.

 

Technically offshore workers don't get any holidays so they don't get 26 weeks off they get nothing off.

 

As the argument is for paid holidays I'd say 4 weeks paid holidays is much better than nothing at all.

 

If you want to add up time worked compared with time off I'd say 9-5 workers get a far better deal.

 

8736 hours in a year.

 

52 weeks multiplied by 37.5 hours (average working week) a week = 1950 hours worked every year.

Time off is 130.5 multiplied by 52 = 6786 hours off every year

 

(168 hours in a week)

 

Offshore workers do 84 hours a week multiplied by 26 = 2184 hours worked every year.

Time off is 168 hours a week multiplied by 26 = 4368 hours off every year.

They also have an additional 2184 hours off while offshore during "time off shift although they are still technically at work and can be called upon at any time. Gives a total time "off" of 6552.

 

Therefore onshore guys work less hours and get more time off.

 

That's not taking into consideration 4 weeks of an onshore workers time worked is actually time off on pay.

 

What do you make of that?

[daytripping]

I have some sympathy for the offshore workers, fuck spending half your life on an oil rig in the middle of the sea, you're missing an awful lot by being away so much, especially if you have kids. I couldn't do it.

 

One four week break a year doesn't seem a lot to ask for if you're a regular 2/2, it would fuck the rotation up though and people would probably be asked to work longer to cover their back to backs holiday etc.

 

Service hands I have no sympathy for, workshy chunts, they deserve to spend all year offshore with no holidays though some of the money hungry buggers would lap that up.

[tommo1903]

Whats the average wage for an offshore worker against an on shore worker?

 

I would google it but I cant be arsed.

[tup]

WTF does that actually mean?

 

Long story Seb, could bore you for half an hour with the details, but I won't, I'll limit it to one comment:

 

These cunts dinna know they're born as it is, and they can GTF for their paid holidays, acting as if they work the same hours as someone who does a real job, when in reality they get 6 months a year off.

 

Bunch of cunts that they are.

[The Boofon]

Whats the average wage for an offshore worker against an on shore worker?

 

I would google it but I cant be arsed.

 

Very difficult to compare those two occupations Thomas.

 

Professional footballers, famous actors such as Tom Cruise and successful businessmen like Bill Gates and Lord Sugar will have an adverse effect on the onshore workers average wage.

 

As will people working 6 hours a week in ASDA.

 

Fair to say that offshore workers probably make more money than onshore counterparts of similar skills base.

 

Executives onshore will make more than your average offshore gadgie.

 

However as I have pointed out earlier onshore workers work less hours and get more time off so I'd expect them to be on less money compared with their offshore equivalent.

[tommo1903]

Very difficult to compare those two occupations Thomas.

 

Professional footballers, famous actors such as Tom Cruise and successful businessmen like Bill Gates and Lord Sugar will have an adverse effect on the onshore workers average wage.

 

As will people working 6 hours a week in ASDA.

 

Fair to say that offshore workers probably make more money than onshore counterparts of similar skills base.

 

Executives onshore will make more than your average offshore gadgie.

 

However as I have pointed out earlier onshore workers work less hours and get more time off so I'd expect them to be on less money compared with their offshore equivalent.

 

As ever, thanks for fuck all haha

[tup]

Offshore workers get paid obscenely in relation to skill/effort.

 

Most of them are fucking dossers when onshore.

[The Boofon]

As ever, thanks for fuck all haha

 

No bother.

 

It is difficult to compare though.

 

When I worked with you in the Aberdeen office I actually took a substantial wage cut despite being promoted to the position I held.

 

I should have went to a Manager position similar to the one I left the office for but instead got promoted to the level above.

 

Two steps up the ladder but about 500 sheets a month less take home pay.

 

PW probably makes the same cash as I did when I was rotational either before I came into the office or after I left.

 

Hope that helps.

 

For further comparison an engineer onshore (with degree as all engineers should have) will be on far less than "Service Engineers" offshore. I use the term engineer very loosely for the offshore brigade. They are basically shop floor workers with a survival and the same guys working onshore in a yard servicing tools would be more than capable of carrying out the same functions. They just like to be at home every night.

 

It's what's best for you at the end of the day. I loved working in the office in Aberdeen for the year I spent in the office but I didn't have as much time at home and I was working more hours for less pay.

 

Family time was my only factor in leaving to go back to a rotational job otherwise I'd still be there.

[Coopy100]

Can't see that there will be a strike over this, last big strike or sit in as it became in the North Sea achieved nothing

You are not allowed to go on strike. Fucking only recognised union signed that right away. Useless fucking shower of cunts.

 

Whats the average wage for an offshore worker against an on shore worker?

 

I would google it but I cant be arsed.

Maybe you should google a like for like comparison rather than an ill thought out comparison like a general overview. Maybe comparing the skilled trades in St Fergus gas plant to the skilled trades offshore would be a better comparison. The skilled trades at St Fergus are now on much the same as the skilled trades offshore. They also get home to their own beds after every shift and get a lovely four weeks paid holiday provided as well.

 

 

It is frankly a disgrace that this has been denied the offshore sector. As pointed out previously those on a 2 and 2 rota will work extra time compared to those on a 9 to 5 onshore. That is without taking into account the fact that offshore workers spend 24 hours a day at their work. An equivalent to that would be a doctor who has to spend 24 hours at work while on call. He gets those 24 hours towards his working time directive hours if he is actually called out or if he just spends the whole time in his bed. What do the offshore workers get. They get fuck all thanks to the law makers in this country. A fucking disgrace.

[tup]

tommo's thinking to himself 'thank christ for the family time'.

[Coopy100]

Most engineers with a degree I have met would struggle to put a nut in a monkeys mouth. Useless shower of cunts.

[tup]

It is frankly a disgrace that this has been denied the offshore sector. As pointed out previously those on a 2 and 2 rota will work extra time compared to those on a 9 to 5 onshore. That is without taking into account the fact that offshore workers spend 24 hours a day at their work. An equivalent to that would be a doctor who has to spend 24 hours at work while on call. He gets those 24 hours towards his working time directive hours if he is actually called out or if he just spends the whole time in his bed. What do the offshore workers get. They get fuck all thanks to the law makers in this country. A fucking disgrace.

 

I'll provide you with a free box of Kleenex such is my horror at your plight.

 

Whether or not you use them to dry your eyes or not is entirely up to yourself.

[The Boofon]

You are not allowed to go on strike. Fucking only recognised union signed that right away. Useless fucking shower of cunts.

 

 

 

Which justifies my point about Jake Malloy being a mouthpiece unable to do anything he says or threatens.

 

tommo's thinking to himself 'thank christ for the family time'.

 

 

 

He's lost without me.

 

Most engineers with a degree I have met would struggle to put a nut in a monkeys mouth. Useless shower of cunts.

 

 

Very able to work out the volume of a biscuit tin but unable to open the lid.

[K-9]

Give them all 2 weeks paid holiday as long as they are willing to work extra 2 weeks at some point to cover for workmates on holidays?

[fatshaft]

I have a few.

 

1) They get plenty of time off - and are well paid as well.

 

2) My evenings off do not get counted towards my annual leave entitlement - why should theirs?

 

3) What about time in lieu for weekends / bank holidays?

 

Bit of a mixed bag, I reckon - some points I'd agree with the additional leave argument, others I wouldn't.

 

Definitely less of a case than the Unison members - but then I considered them to have an excellent case

Or alternatively, definitely much more of a case than Unison members who had no case at all.