Offshore workers employed by Petrofac Facilities Management Limited on the Kittiwake platform will vote on potential strike action, according to the UK-based union Unite. Approximately 30 Unite members working on the EnQuest-owned asset, including electrical, production, and mechanical technicians, deck crew, scaffolders, and crane operators, will participate in the ballot, which opens on September 11 and closes on October 12.

The primary demand of Unite's members is that the Energy Services Agreement (ESA) three percent uplift from July 2022 be applied to the workers. Unite noted that Petrofac has not implemented this increase under the ESA's terms and conditions, which cover around 5,000 workers in the UK Continental Shelf. The ESA is signed by 16 contractors and three unions, including Unite.

Unite's general secretary, Sharon Graham, expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, stating, "Unite’s Petrofac membership on Kittiwake still haven’t received what is rightfully theirs. It’s completely unacceptable that a three percent uplift applied to July last year is still not in their pockets. Our members are also demanding that the draconian fourteen-day clawback policy also be fixed immediately or strike action will be on the horizon. Unite will continue to fully support our members in the fight to secure better jobs, pay, and conditions in the offshore sector.”

Unite pointed out that offshore workers can be required to work at any time without receiving additional payment. Furthermore, EnQuest, the operator, has a "clawback" policy of 14 days, double the industry norm of seven days. Unite is calling for a reduction in the "clawback days" policy from 14 days to seven, with retroactive application from January 2023.

John Boland, Unite industrial officer, added, “Our members have had enough, and it’s a disgrace that they may have to take strike action to get what is owed to them. There is a small window of opportunity for Petrofac to do the right thing and we would encourage them to do so before any strike action takes place.”

The Kittiwake platform is situated 160 kilometers east of Aberdeen, in License block 21/18, and stands in a water depth of 85 meters. It was installed in 1990 as a fixed steel platform.