Unite says Apache's latest pay offer forces offshore staff to consider a strike that could down the Forties pipeline and strain Britain's fuel market.
The Unite union has issued a stark warning that a looming walkout by offshore staff at the North Sea operator Apache may severely affect the United Kingdom’s fuel landscape. More than 160 technicians, electricians, radio operators and other specialists are prepared to strike if negotiations over a new pay deal break down.
The dispute centres on a proposal that, according to the union, would deliver a real-terms pay cut for many workers despite Apache posting record earnings the previous year.
Apache, a Texas-based energy firm, asserts that a 4% wage rise is generous for a workforce already among the country’s highest earners, with an offshore rota that averages 153 days on site per year.
The company also claims to have engaged constructively throughout the bargaining process and says its offer aligns with recent raises granted to non-unionised staff. Nevertheless, Unite maintains that the offer is unacceptable and that threats to withhold back-pay could leave employees thousands of pounds short.
Why the strike could cripple the Forties pipeline
The Forties pipeline system (FPS) is a critical piece of infrastructure that transports crude oil and associated gas from the North Sea to the British mainland. Operated by INEOS, the network can move up to 600,000 barrels of oil per day, accounting for roughly 29% of the nation’s oil and 30% of its gas output. At its peak the FPS handled around 40% of total UK oil production, making it a linchpin for energy security.
If Apache’s platforms – especially the “Charlie” installation, which Unite describes as “critical” – were forced offline, the resulting drop in pressure could cascade through the whole system. The union warns that a standstill at Charlie could lead to the entire Forties pipeline “going down”, potentially choking the flow of a substantial share of the country’s fuel imports. While Apache stresses that it has contingency plans, including retaining experienced staff to keep key sites operational, the uncertainty surrounding a coordinated industrial action remains a genuine risk.
Broader market pressures and official reactions
Fuel prices in the UK have already surged to record levels, with diesel briefly breaching the £2-per-litre mark. The price spike reflects a combination of geopolitical tensions – notably the US-Israel conflict in Iran and the ongoing war in Ukraine – which have tightened global crude supplies. In response, G7 leaders agreed to release up to 100 million barrels from emergency stockpiles after pressure from the United States, where President Trump threatened to curb diesel exports unless European nations unlocked more of their own reserves.
Government officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero have urged both parties to resolve the matter without disruption, emphasizing that the Forties pipeline chiefly carries export-bound oil and therefore may not directly affect domestic fuel availability. Nonetheless, Unite’s leadership, including General Secretary Sharon Graham and industrial officer Stevie Davies, argue that any interruption could have “far-reaching consequences for workers, operators and consumers”. Their rhetoric underscores the high stakes for a sector already wrestling with volatile market conditions.
Earlier this year, a separate union-led walkout at Neo Next offshore workers was averted after a deal that lifted pay by more than £4,000 per employee. That precedent demonstrates how swiftly negotiations can collapse into industrial action when workers feel cornered, and it adds weight to the current standoff with Apache.
