United Kingdom: oil rigs on strike

Thousands of oil and gas workers operating on the British continental shelf are on strike to demand fairer wages and working conditions, highlighting the windfall profits made by these companies.

Partagez:

In the UK, oil rigs are on strike by employees demanding better pay and working conditions, the Unite union announced Monday.

An unprecedented oil rig strike in the UK

“The gas companies and oil companies have been given carte blanche to take advantage of huge extraordinary profits in the North Sea”, denounced in a statement the general secretary of the union Unite, Sharon Graham. “1.400 offshore workers are now about to go on strike against those employers who … refuse to give them a fair share,” she added.

The strike was voted in several companies of the sector after separate consultations. Strikes will take place on various platforms between March 29 and June 7, for periods of 24, 48 and 72 hours, the union adds. The movement will affect the main oil and gas operators in the sector, including BP, Shell and TotalEnergies, according to Unite.

Results boosted by hydrocarbon prices

Indeed, the oil majors saw their results boosted last year by the price of hydrocarbons. The latter have surged, particularly in the wake of the war in Ukraine, with most recording record profits.

Solidarity shown by the NGO Greenpeace to the oil rig strikes

“Oil and gas workers have been abandoned to their fate, while their bosses and shareholders have made tens of billions of pounds,” denounced the NGO Greenpeace in a statement, saying it “stands in solidarity” with the movement.

This strike comes at a time of economic recovery. Indeed, inflationary pressures are weighing on wages and negotiations on the distribution of wealth are expected to be difficult in many sectors.

Oil and gas workers have been hit hard by the economic crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic. This has been reflected in lower demand and prices for oil and gas.

Important economic consequences

This strike will have important economic consequences, especially for the companies of the sector which will have to manage the absence of employees on the production platforms. It could also have an impact on energy prices for consumers, if operators fail to maintain production.

The British government has called on both parties to reach an agreement quickly, in order to limit the negative consequences on the economy and the workers concerned.

According to the 2025 report on global energy access, despite notable progress in renewable energy, insufficient targeted financing continues to hinder electricity and clean cooking access, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
While advanced economies maintain global energy leadership, China and the United States have significantly progressed in the security and sustainability of their energy systems, according to the World Economic Forum's annual report.
On the sidelines of the US–Africa summit in Luanda, Algiers and Luanda consolidate their energy collaboration to better exploit their oil, gas, and mining potential, targeting a common strategy in regional and international markets.
The UK's Climate Change Committee is urging the government to quickly reduce electricity costs to facilitate the adoption of heat pumps and electric vehicles, judged too slow to achieve the set climate targets.
The European Commission will extend until the end of 2030 an expanded state-aid framework, allowing capitals to fund low-carbon technologies and nuclear power to preserve competitiveness against China and the United States.
Japan's grid operator forecasts an energy shortfall of up to 89 GW by 2050 due to rising demand from semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence technologies.
Energy-intensive European industries will be eligible for temporary state aid to mitigate high electricity prices, according to a new regulatory framework proposed by the European Commission under the "Clean Industrial Deal."
Mauritius seeks international investors to swiftly build a floating power plant of around 100 MW, aiming to secure the national energy supply by January 2026 and address current production shortfalls.
Madrid announces immediate energy storage measures while Lisbon secures its electrical grid, responding to the historic outage that affected the entire Iberian Peninsula in late April.
Indonesia has unveiled its new national energy plan, projecting an increase of 69.5 GW in electricity capacity over ten years, largely funded by independent producers, to address rapidly rising domestic demand.
French Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher condemns the parliamentary moratorium on new renewable energy installations, warning of the potential loss of 150,000 industrial jobs and increased energy dependence on foreign countries.
The European battery regulation, fully effective from August 18, significantly alters industrial requirements related to electric cars and bicycles, imposing strict rules on recycling, supply chains, and transparency for companies.
The European Parliament calls on the Commission to strengthen energy infrastructure and accelerate the implementation of the Clean Industrial Deal to enhance the continent's energy flexibility and security amid increased market volatility.
The European Commission unveils an ambitious plan to modernize electricity grids and introduces the Clean Industrial Deal, mobilizing hundreds of billions of euros to strengthen the continent's industrial and energy autonomy.
In the United States, regulated electric grid operators hold a decisive advantage in connecting new data centres to the grid, now representing 134 GW of projects, according to a Wood Mackenzie report published on June 19.
The French National Assembly approves a specific target of 200 TWh renewable electricity production by 2030 within a legislative text extensively debated about the future national energy mix.
In 2024, US CO₂ emissions remain stable at 5.1bn tonnes, as the Trump administration prepares hydrocarbon-friendly energy policies, raising questions about the future evolution of the American market.
The early publication of France's energy decree triggers strong parliamentary reactions, as the government aims to rapidly secure investments in nuclear and other energy sectors.
Seven weeks after the major Iberian power outage, Spain identifies technical network failures, while the European Investment Bank approves major funding to strengthen the interconnection with France.
The European Union has announced a detailed schedule aiming to definitively halt Russian gas imports by the end of 2027, anticipating internal legal and commercial challenges to overcome.