Offshore holiday campaign continues

Unions representing offshore workers were continuing their campaign to secure a legal entitlement to four weeks' paid leave for their members (see news, Workplace Report July 2003).

The amended Working Time Regulations extended this right to the offshore sector in August, but did not spell out how it should be applied. The issue is due to be discussed in a House of Commons Standing Committee debate on 22 October.

Amicus, one of the unions involved, is hoping that this will produce authoritative guidance on the subject, although the campaign is also being taken up through the European Parliament.

Most offshore workers work a two weeks on/two weeks off pattern and the employers (represented by the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association) argue that this already "accommodates" four weeks' paid leave.

Employment relations minister Gerry Sutcliffe wrote to the parties involved in July, suggesting that holiday entitlement should apply "in proportion to a worker's shift pattern". This would mean that most workers would spend two weeks less offshore per year (24 weeks) and have two more weeks on shore. But Graham Tran, Amicus regional officer, told Workplace Report that employers are ignoring this suggestion because it is not part of the regulations.