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10 August, 2005ICEM News release No. 71/2001
For the first time ever, a Canadian union has organised workers on an offshore oil platform.
The breakthrough was announced yesterday by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP). At the global level, the CEP is affiliated to the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).
The vote by workers on the Hibernia oil platform, off the coast of Newfoundland, sets an important precedent.
As the neighbouring USA seeks new energy supplies, oil and gas are becoming one of Canada's biggest industries. So far based mainly on oil sands, where union organisation is already significant, Canadian oil production has rapidly expanded offshore. In 2000, about 89,000 people were directly employed in Canada's upstream crude oil and gas industry.
The CEP has spent the last four years supporting efforts to bring union protection to the nearly 400 drillers, roughnecks, nurses, cooks and others who work aboard the Hibernia platform, more than 315 kilometres out in the ocean.
"I hope these are the first of many offshore oil workers - who face hazardous and stressful working conditions on the high seas - to benefit from the protection of a union," said CEP President Brian Payne. The victory opens the door for the CEP to start unionising other offshore platforms, he stated.
"The employer used every trick in the book to try to keep the union out," Payne said. But he noted that the organising process should be more efficient in future, after action by the Newfoundland labour minister involving round-table discussions with CEP participation.
The breakthrough was announced yesterday by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP). At the global level, the CEP is affiliated to the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).
The vote by workers on the Hibernia oil platform, off the coast of Newfoundland, sets an important precedent.
As the neighbouring USA seeks new energy supplies, oil and gas are becoming one of Canada's biggest industries. So far based mainly on oil sands, where union organisation is already significant, Canadian oil production has rapidly expanded offshore. In 2000, about 89,000 people were directly employed in Canada's upstream crude oil and gas industry.
The CEP has spent the last four years supporting efforts to bring union protection to the nearly 400 drillers, roughnecks, nurses, cooks and others who work aboard the Hibernia platform, more than 315 kilometres out in the ocean.
"I hope these are the first of many offshore oil workers - who face hazardous and stressful working conditions on the high seas - to benefit from the protection of a union," said CEP President Brian Payne. The victory opens the door for the CEP to start unionising other offshore platforms, he stated.
"The employer used every trick in the book to try to keep the union out," Payne said. But he noted that the organising process should be more efficient in future, after action by the Newfoundland labour minister involving round-table discussions with CEP participation.