Bristow jobs blow not as bad as first feared ABZ P&J
by Steve Sinclair
Bristow Helicopters announced yesterday that 44 jobs are to go through compulsory redundancies following its latest review of staffing and operations.
But the expected announcement was not as bad as had been feared.
Indications a month ago were that up to 80 jobs were at risk, split between Bristow's bases in Aberdeen and Scatsta, Shetland.
The smaller redundancy figure is due to Bristow negotiating a new engineering contract with Scotia Helicopters.
The bulk of the compulsory redundancies – 42 – will be in Aberdeen and the other two at Scatsta. The contract with Scotia involves on-line and heavy maintenance engineering work for up to 17 personnel, who will remain Bristow employees.
Bristow chief executive Keith Chanter said: "While we very much regret having to review our operations and staffing numbers, the new contract is the result of our determination to maximise the potential for our highly-skilled staff and specialist workforce and minimise job losses.
"We will not be able to finalise the details of the restructuring until the consul-tation process is completed next month, but we are encouraged by the constructive discussions that are continuing with individuals and the MSF."
MSF union convener at Bristow, Del Tarn, said: "The reduction from the original estimate of between 60 and 80 down to 44 is good news basically.
"We are still working fairly hard through our consultation process to reduce numbers further and will continue to do so, as the consultation process has about two weeks to run.
"We have certain proposals still to make, depending on working practices, as there is still a certain amount of re-structuring going on following the move of people to work for Scotia.
"We will be looking at areas where we might consider there are not enough personnel involved."
He confirmed that negotiations with Bristow had gone quite well and had been correct throughout.
He added: "Taking it in the context that we were originally told between 60 and 80 people might be made redundant and we are now down to 44 compulsory redundancies, it is not as bad as we had feared – but I am not leaping around.
"It is still 44 too many of us, friends and colleagues."
The losses will occur mainly in engineering and terminal services.
The Bristow review was prompted by a decrease in activity offshore and a 35% reduction in the company's North Sea operations in the last 12 months.
Anticipated future demand for helicopters amounts to 12 aircraft, compared with the current level of 17.
The company has also forecast that it will make a substantial cumulative loss on North Sea operations in the coming year.
Bristow employs 445 people in Aberdeen, 55 at Scatsta and 25 at Sumburgh. The MSF union represents 375 employees.
Bristow says the review and redundancies will not in any way compromise the company's absolute priority of continuing to ensure the highest standards of safety in its operations.