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Offshore union to merge with UK transport union
20 February 2008
Members of a North Sea offshore workers’ union have voted in favour of a merger with the UK ITF-affiliated National Union of Rail and Maritime Transport Workers (RMT).
The workers, members of the Offshore Industry Liaison Committee (OILC), which represents some 2000 employees, voted in a postal ballot to become the offshore section of the RMT. The ballot closed on 13 February.
The merger was recommended by the OILC’s annual conference in Aberdeen, Scotland, last October, and endorsed by a special general meeting of the RMT in Doncaster, UK, last March.
OILC General Secretary Jake Molloy, who will become lead officer for the new RMT offshore section, said: "This is an historic day for trade unionism in the offshore sector.
"Together we will have the resources and the experience to organise for better safety and to win better pay and conditions and job security for offshore workers."
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow commented: "It makes sound industrial sense for two unions organising in the same sector and with the same outlook to join forces.
"Bringing our two unions together will give us more industrial clout and can only benefit members of both.”
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