Offshore Catering Workers Accept Pay Deal

In a statement sent to Rigzone by UK union Unite on Tuesday, the union announced that its offshore catering members have accepted an above inflation pay offer from the Catering Offshore Trade Association (COTA).

The overall pay package is worth an increase of 4.5 percent and runs for one year starting on September 1, 2024, Unite noted in the statement, highlighting that the deal includes a basic four percent increase in pay, increases in travel, mileage, and dinner allowances, and an increase in a festive payment.

The COTA wage deal covers over 2,000 workers in offshore catering companies including Aramark, Conntrak, Entier, ESS, FOSS & ESG, Sodexo, and Trinity International Services, Unite said in the statement. The Union highlighted in the statement that its membership covered by COTA “includes chefs, cleaners, heli-admin, and stewards who deliver catering and ancillary services across North Sea oil and gas installations”.

“This is a good wage deal for our offshore caterers which covers 2,000 workers,” Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said in a union statement.

“The pay package negotiated by Unite demonstrates the value of being a trade union member. We are fully committed to improving the jobs, terms and conditions for workers in the offshore oil and gas sector,” Graham added.

Unite Industrial Officer Shauna Wright said in the statement, “the COTA wage deal backed by our offshore members will deliver a significant boost to pay packets”.

“It’s a deal we are pleased to have successfully negotiated and it enhances basic pay and allowances. The deal provides a solid platform to build upon for next year’s negotiations,” Wright added.

Rigzone asked COTA for comment on Unite’s statement. In response, COTA Chairman Andrew Thomson told Rigzone, “we are pleased that the recent offer from COTA has been accepted by Unite and RMT”.  

“This offer and its acceptance by union members underscore our continued commitment to fair compensation and reflects the collaborative approach to negotiations by all parties,” he added.

“The acceptance of this offer is a positive step forward for both COTA and our valued workforce,” he continued. 

COTA highlights on its website that it was established over 20 years ago and represents companies which supply catering and auxiliary services to offshore oil and gas rigs in the North Sea.

“COTA’s main priority is maintaining a collective focus on safety and service delivery for the benefit of our customers and our people,” COTA states on its site.

“Together we employ over 3,000 employees, including chefs, bakers, stewards and administrative team members,” it adds.

COTA outlines on its site that it has “two key roles”. One relates to “employee terms and conditions” and the other to “health and safety requirements”, the site points out.

“Every year COTA companies come together to review the current terms and conditions for employees. This includes wage rises and holiday entitlements. These terms and conditions are negotiated with the two unions which represent a proportion of our team – RMT and Unite,” the COTA site notes.

“Offshore installations in the North Sea are subject to very stringent health and safety requirements. COTA companies meet to ensure these requirements are exceeded for the benefit of customers and employees,” it adds.

Unite describes itself as the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay, and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy.

In a separate statement sent to Rigzone by Unite on Tuesday, the union said it “has secured an improved pay deal for workers at Scottish Power Energy Network (SPEN)”. The deal follows the rejection of a first offer, Unite highlighted in the statement, adding that the workers are based throughout the UK.

“The two year deal will mean a minimum increase in year one of 5.5 percent for all staff, with some workers receiving an additional increase depending on grading and where they are on the pay matrix,” Unite said in the statement.

“A further increase in year two of inflation plus 1.5 percent (to be based on CPIH in March 2025) with the minimum award being 3.5 percent and the maximum five per cent will also be applied. There is an agreement to reopen pay negotiations should CPIH in March 2025 exceed four percent,” it added.

Rigzone has contacted ScottishPower for comment on this Unite statement. At the time of writing, ScottishPower has not yet responded to Rigzone’s request. SPEN is a subsidiary of ScottishPower, the latter’s website highlights.

To contact the author, email andreas.exarheas@rigzone.com