UNITE has signed a recognition agreement for offshore health workers at Britain’s largest oil producer.

The union secured a deal with MCL Medics last week covering around 20 staff providing lifesaving services on Harbour Energy installations.

Harbour Energy is the largest oil and gas producer in British waters and the medics service the Armada, Britannia, Everest, Jade, Jasmine, Judy, Lomond, Solan and Tolmount offshore sites.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham added: “Offshore medics are a vital lifesaving asset for workers on Harbour Energy installations.

“Unite is delighted to have negotiated a recognition agreement for the MCL medics, which will help to secure better jobs, pay and conditions for workers in the offshore sector.”

The recognition agreement means that the union will now have a platform for collective bargaining to improve jobs, pay and conditions on the Harbour Energy contract.

Unite industrial officer John Boland said: “The recognition agreement signed with MCL Medics is another significant step forward for Unite in representing this group of key offshore workers.

“We believe the agreement sends a positive signal that Unite wants to work constructively with companies, contractors and operators to drive up working standards in the oil and gas industry.”

The union is also set to begin wage negotiations, covering more than 600 workers, with several high-profile operators in the offshore sector in the coming weeks.

They include TotalEnergies, Repsol Resources, CNOOC and Equinor.

In February, Unite confirmed it had signed a recognition deal with Equinor covering some 70 workers.

This followed several recent agreements that involve Repsol Resources, covering around 350 workers, TotalEnergies, for around 80 workers, and a deal with CNOOC negotiated in May 2023 that covers around 140 workers. 

Last month, the TUC Congress narrowly backed a motion opposing any government ban on new licences for North Sea drilling.

Delegates said a fully funded workers’ plan, guaranteeing commensurate jobs for all North Sea workers, must be agreed first.

They backed an industrial strategy policy “that maximises our domestic energy strengths for national security, with all assets and options part of the solution: nuclear, renewables and oil and gas production.”

Unite executive council member Cliff Bowen said: “We demand a real industrial strategy built on the expertise and experience of oil and gas workers.”