Union warns of 'critical' safety issues in Mossmorran maintenance jobs row
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Trade union, Unite, raised “critical” safety concerns, claiming operators, Shell, were cutting contract jobs by more than 80 per cent at Fife Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Plant and St Fergus gas terminal near Peterhead.
The company rejected the figure stating the planned reduction would see maintenance jobs contracted for specific work rather than staff based full-time at the plants.
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Hide AdUnite said the changes would result in 63 out of 77 jobs being axed at Mossmorran, with a further 46 out of 52 jobs being proposed for redundancy at St Fergus.
It said trades impacted included scaffold inspectors and supervisors, riggers and rigging supervisors, forklift drivers, general assistants and mechanical supervisors.
The union has been in consultation with the contractor, Kaefer, for weeks to stave off the compulsory redundancies, which it said were being enforced by the oil giant.
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Hide AdBob MacGregor, Unite industrial officer: “We are deeply concerned that the level of cuts being proposed will result in potentially critical health and safety concerns.
“There are a number of ongoing issues at the plant which we have worked hard to resolve with the companies involved onsite.
“However, these proposals are of such a brutal nature that we are being informed by local union representatives this could impair the condition and maintenance of the installations. We call on Shell to step back and re-engage with Unite to find alternative solutions because lives are at risk here.”
A spokesman for Shell rejected the claims.
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Hide AdHe stated: “We do not recognise these figures, as the planned reduction in our core maintenance team is 12%. Other reductions are due to seasonal projects that have already been completed.
“The safety of our plants, our teams and our communities is paramount and will not be compromised. Maintenance will be done at the right time by the right specialists.
“They will now be contracted for specific projects, rather than being based at the plants full time.
“At this time of economic uncertainty, we know that this news will be very difficult for contractor colleagues whose jobs may be impacted as a result.”