New Zealand’s Offshore Oil and Gas Workers Get Tentative Agreement

In New Zealand, offshore energy and drilling workers belonging to ICEM affiliate Engineering Printing & Manufacturing Union (EPMU) are expected to ratify a new multi-employer collective agreement that will merge separate onshore and offshore agreements into one agreement.

EPMU issued a strike notice to the five drilling companies and several oil firms involved. The strike was to have started on 24 May. Employers responded by filing a court injunction preventing a work stoppage.

But two weeks ago, employers presented a revised two-year pay offer that EPMU’s oil and gas negotiating committee was recommending for ratification to the 200 workers. Voting is expected to conclude on the contract proposal in the near future.