Worley, the company which operates the gas export pipeline to the Sullom Voe Terminal, Shetland are making their workforce of 27 redundant. They have said that this is due to cost savings they are having to make with the fall in the price of oil and the Covid19 pandemic.

Bilfinger,the other main contractor on the site, furloughed their workforce. The government scheme provides that individuals are paid 80% of wages up to a maximum of £2,500 per month effective from 1 March 2020 for a three-month period.

The trade union Unite representing the workforce at Worley are going to press the company to reverse the decision. Unite  will also now explore all legal options including the possibility of lodging unfair dismissal cases on behalf of the workers.

John Boland, Unite Regional Officer, said:

“It is a disgraceful way to treat a workforce that have worked at Sullom Voe for many years, to discard them with no care or thought as to how they will survive.

“It’s clear that Worley is only interested in itself, and have no regard for the workforce.

“We urge the company to look at how the government scheme can be used to support the workers during this difficult time by delaying the redundancies as Bilfinger have done.

“If they don’t do the right thing then Unite will consider all actions in order to support the workforce including the possibility of lodging unfair dismissal cases on their behalf.”

Sullom Voe by Mat Tuck