Bristow UK strike
 

I am surprised that in this esteemed forum the subject of the voted for by pilots for industrial action @ Bristow’s UK has not been discussed…

A brief mention by me here:

https://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/65...1#post11592458

Everyone watching from the sidelines on this one. But the percentage of votes cast and result are surprisingly high. Many a year past the old Bristow HP boys and girls tended to be vocal enough but when it came to the crunch cut them open and it would be blue red and white inside. Especially true in Aberdeen. Maybe just the years of poachers turned gamekeepers who have lined their own pockets and promotions while screwing former colleagues has finally come home to roost. The company overall is not exactly in a great financial position either but the Houston mafia continue to reward themselves and push ever harder on the workforce’s rights and remuneration packages.
Some of the overly can-do ex U.K. mil in UKSAR have not helped their cause in the past either but seem to have finally stopped drinking the kool-ade.

Good luck to them as they will set the tone for the year for a lot of big operator's including the fixed wing world UK.
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I hear that Bristows are to go on strike this week. Can anyone confirm?

P3

Yep, tomorrow and Wednesday, unless there is a last minute reprieve.
Can someone tell me when this last happened in O&G and SAR, if ever?

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....efec71000.jpeg

From my personal contacts, the company has behaved appallingly. Some seriously petty and spiteful stuff going on that will resonate for years. Good luck with the post strike future. The union have said that the Bristow management are among the most intransigent and difficult to deal with in recent history. The American management pride themselves as ball breaking strike busters. Offered a 3 pc pay rise after years of nothing while trousering large bonuses. Apparently a reasonable offer regardless of double digit inflation post Covid. These clowns are responsible for the UK SAR, let alone their role in oil and gas. Meanwhile the front line fly in sh!tty weather to oil rigs / platforms or go several extra yards to rescue people. All power to the pilot group standing up to these fools.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...tland-68970435

I’m curious what the protocols are for the SAR crews? Surely they will launch in some cases?

There are apparently protocols in place to ensure that safety cover is in place for SAR emergencies.

Half the bases are offline today with no crew, half the bases go offline tomorrow with no crew at base. The staff have had various votes on offers from the company all have been 93%+ no votes to the deal offered. The company are not willing to pay more as it will hurt the bonuses of the senior management in my opinion.

I remember the last strike at Bristow Aberdeen .... '77 I think. Guess the salaries are a tad higher now....

Crab was quick to vilify Irish SAR for potential strike action over pay even though a base was never taken offline.
UKSAR bases x 5 offline for strike action over pay and not a word about it.
Double standards?

Adjusted for inflation i really think they are not.!!!

MBA 101, worked for an American oil company that had great Oz management, then the US guys moved in and we were subjected to a lecture where one US manager informed us, exact quote, "We don't give a f%^k about you people", he wasn't realy telling us anything we hadn't already become aware of.

I do wonder what the political fall out will be, half the UK tax payer, I mean, government funded UK sar assests offline.

It would be an interesting comparison, assuming someone could find some accurate payscales from that era. The N Sea salaries and work patterns underwent something of a major evolution in the early 2000s, when salaries went up by about 30% over a few years and the number of days worked moved from about 220 per year to about 182 days per year.

If I were a betting man, I would say the current workforce has a much better package, including salary, than that of the late 70s.

Offshore, (and Bristow in particular) is one of the best paying jobs in the UK. Captains easily trouser £110k+ a year for about 180 days per year.

Only just heard about it looking at this thread. Do I agree with it? I'd have to know more about why they have chosen this course of action.

I presume the beef is with the US management rather than the UK since they will control the purse strings.

Seems dumb to let yourself be dragged into the public view and not settling quietly when you are expanding and looking for more SAR contracts.

Strikes are usually an absolute last-ditch course of action so I can't think it was taken lightly by the SAR boys and girls, it doesn't sit well with their ethos. But if the management try to play hard ball then everyone loses.

Norunway - you do know I haven't been in UK SAR since 2014?