Strike action by North Sea Apache workers could 'severely disrupt' UK fuel supplies

A union has warned imminent strike action by more than 160 North Sea oil workers could see UK fuel supplies “severely disrupted”.

Apache staff have backed industrial action over a pay dispute after rejecting an offer which Unite said amounts to a real terms pay cut for many workers.

The union has warned that the strikes – impacting seven Apache assets associated with the Forties and Beryl oil fields – could result in the entire Forties Pipeline System going down.

Operated by Ineos, the system handles 29% of the UK’s oil and 30% of its gas.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “We will not tolerate unacceptable pay offers and threats to withhold back pay from Apache.

“The operator is raking in eye-watering profits. It’s treating its highly-skilled workers with contempt.

“Apache has been caught red handed in embarking on shameful corporate greed.”

Strike action could begin this month, involving electrical, instrument, mechanical and production technicians, as well as telecoms technicians and radio operators.

Apache North Sea Production Limited is part of the APA Corporation, which recorded after-tax profits of £1.2 billion from revenue of almost £7 billion in 2025.

Unite industrial officer Stevie Davies added: “Any disruption to Apache’s platforms would have a direct hit on the Forties Pipeline and potentially severely affecting the UK’s fuel supplies.”

Apache said that industrial action may not take place and that it did not expect disruption to fuel supplies if strikes went ahead.

A spokesperson said: “Apache has engaged constructively throughout the pay discussions. We believe our final offer to the union is fair and recognises the contribution of our offshore workforce, alongside the wider benefits in our total rewards package.

“The proposed pay increase is also in line with that awarded to our non-unionised employees earlier this year.

“Our offer provides a 4% pay increase for employees in the bargaining unit, whose earnings already place them among the highest earners in the UK and whose offshore rota averages 153 working days a year.

“Based on our current contingency plans, we do not anticipate that industrial action would affect other producers’ ability to continue operating through the Forties pipeline system.

“Our plans include maintaining experienced personnel on Forties Charlie to operate the plant and support continued third-party production, even if production from all five Apache-operated Forties platforms were suspended.

“Any resulting reduction in pipeline pressure if Apache production was suspended would be comparable to that experienced during a routine maintenance outage.

“We respect the ballot result, but our preference remains to resolve this matter through constructive dialogue.”