Dozens of jobs are under threat at a leading North Sea helicopter operator.

CHC Scotia has begun a consultation with 50 Aberdeen-based staff, including around 25 pilots.

The company has blamed the move on “challenging conditions” following a slump in the value of oil.

A spokesman for CHC said: “While we have worked diligently to address market conditions without affecting our workforce in Aberdeen, unfortunately we are unable to continue to do so.

“On Monday we started formal consultation discussions with affected employees and their trade union representatives. In the region of 50 positions may be affected at our Aberdeen base.

“We continue to work to reduce costs, strengthen our balance sheet and partner with our customers to provide solutions that result in lower customer costs, while maintaining an absolute commitment to industry-leading safety, availability and reliability.”

Meanwhile, a total of 130 Bristow Helicopters workers, including up to 66 pilots, are likely to lose their jobs across the UK. Bristow blamed the move on an “ongoing reduction of oil and gas activity in the North Sea”.

Pilots’ union BALPA has renewed calls for joint UK and Scottish Government summit amid concerns that cuts could endanger the safety of North Sea workers.

General secretary Jim McAuslan said: “This is yet more devastating news, not only for the CHC Scotia community, but for North Sea industry as a whole.

“The loss of experience is a major threat to the economy. It is more important than ever that the governments should commit to helping businesses in the North Sea through this downturn, so skills are not lost when the situation improves.

“BALPA is committed to doing all it can to protect pilots, but we have a wider duty to warn that the consequence of these cuts will be felt in safety in the North Sea.

“Job losses are bad but loss of life is inexcusable and those who let contracts need to be publicly challenged under oath on how far safety really figures in their calculations.”

Source: news.stv.tv

Please leave comments and feedback below