Several external members employed by Bilfinger are set to begin multi-day industrial proceedings over a pay dispute, which will result in an eight-day standstill at a floating storage unit (FSU) and floating production facility (FPF) on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).
The British union “Unite” confirmed that about 20 of its members work for Bilfinger at the Ithaca power station it runs. Federal Football Association Alba and FPV-1 Assets in the North Sea will begin idling for eight days this month.
The strike, triggered by a dispute over the operator’s refusal to extend a retention bonus for offshore workers, will last from June 4 until the end of June 7, 2026, at the Alba unit, followed by four days of work on FPF1 from June 9 to the end of play on June 12.
Sharon GrahamThe Secretary-General of the Union commented: “Ithaca Energy and Bilfinger are incredibly wealthy companies that are able to pay our members a retention bonus in full.
“The payment is a drop in the North Sea for Ithaca Energy, which makes billions. Our members are left with no choice for these greedy companies but to go on strike to get what they deserve.”
After postponing previous industrial action to allow for talks with Bilfinger, the union confirmed there has been little progress from the company or Ithaca Energy on paying workers.
Unite claims Ithaca Energy excluded Bilfinger employees, who include scaffolders, engineers, deckhands and rope access workers, from the bonus scheme, with workers from other companies working on the same assets eligible for the bonus.
The operator’s February 2026 trading update highlighted pre-tax profits of $2 billion, up from $1.4 billion in 2024, while Bilfinger UK also reported profits of £17.7 million ($23.8 million) in 2024, up slightly from £14 million ($18.8 million) in 2023.
Paula BuchanThe union’s industrial official confirmed: “Unite has attempted to get Ithaca Energy as the final paymaster and Bilfinger around the table to reach a positive resolution to this dispute. It is unacceptable for our members to be denied payments that other companies make to workers on these assets.”
“Strikes on Alba FSU and FPF1 will have a significant impact on the day-to-day operations of these assets. We will also escalate this action if Ithaca Energy and Bilfinger refuse to see the logic.”
This comes after the union Announce Industrial polling for offshore workers on Neo Next + Energy’s Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn platforms.
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