Offshore Diving Industry Agreement

Company Signatories' Website

Working with RMT

Working to Deliver Improved Compensation

The Signatory companies have undertaken to lobby the industry to agree provisions in contracts for diving services work with a view to introducing, by March 2011, 2 new types of compensation scheme:

• General ‘Standby’ or ‘Guaranteed Payments on Stand-down’ – these provisions will outline the circumstances in which payment may be made in compensation for a worker’s agreement to remain available for an assignment, during a defined period, where embarkation is delayed.
• Compensation for unscheduled extensions to tours (weather excluded) – this scheme will outline the circumstances in which payment may be made in compensation for inconvenience and distress caused by unscheduled extensions to tours of duty (weather excluded).

The RMT and the companies accept that the establishment of these new benefits, and their payment to workers, are contingent on the companies’ ability to recoup the amounts from clients and customers.

It has been agreed that the parties tackle these 2 ‘Lobby’ schemes as longer-term ‘work-in-progress’. Further information on the strategy, plans and progress to date may be obtained from the Coordinator.

Developing Industrial Relations

The companies wish to collaborate with representatives of the workforce on these objectives, and participate in building a more ongoing relationship with all the various stakeholders involved in performing our UK diving operations.

The ODIA contains an Appendix which sets out how, regardless of the varied models of engaging diving personnel, the companies and the union agree to conduct their joint relationship in respect of the 3-yearly pay negotiations.

There is no forum, at present, to support the ongoing exchange of views about matters of shared or collective concern, outwith the 3-yearly negotiation process. Additionally, because of the different ‘employment’ arrangements, locations of personnel and employing companies, and the range of different people with an interest in such a forum, establishing a traditional consultative structure would not work. The Signatory Companies propose a semi-formal network - an ODIA 'Stakeholder Group' - which brings together all the various representative interests, for the purpose of an exchange of views on matters of shared concern relating to our industry or the diving profession. Practical ideas on how this might work will be considered by the companies and the union over the next few months.

Companies’ commitment

The Company Signatories fund a shared ‘Coordinator’ resource – a paid employee who specialises in industrial relations. This role is held by Val Lockhart, and is funded for a further 12 months beyond its original term. Val’s role now is to work on our behalf with the employing companies, RMT, workforce reps and industry stakeholders until November 2010, to promote this development work – on both the ‘Lobby’ Schemes, and the building of industrial relations.