UNITE welcomed a voluntary recognition deal with Norwegian oil giant Equinor today.

The agreement covers some 70 workers on its Mariner A and B platforms in the North Sea.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The deal with Equinor is the latest example that demonstrates why Unite is the UK’s leading offshore union because we are winning the fight to improve jobs, pay and conditions.”

Unite industrial officer John Boland welcomed “another major step forward for Unite in the oil and gas industry.”

The union now has recognition with Equinor, Repsol Resources, Total Energies, and CNOOC oil and gas operators.

Last September, Britain’s oil and gas regulator granted Equinor permission to develop the Rosebank oil and gas field.

Climate campaigner Greta Thunberg joined a protest outside where Equinor and other oil executives were meeting for the Energy Intelligence Forum in a Mayfair hotel on October 17.

She and four other activists were acquitted of public order offences last Friday.