No compulsory EnQuest redundancies at Sullom Voe Terminal, union says

THERE will be no compulsory redundancies within the unionised workforce at Sullom Voe Terminal in operator EnQuest’s latest cost-cutting drive, according to the regional officer of union Unite.

John Boland said it was “good news for the unionised workforce” at the terminal, which is those under management level.

EnQuest staff at the terminal, as well as all those in its North Sea operations, were told they were at risk of redundancy earlier this year as the oil company sought to cut costs due to the low oil price and the impact of Covid-19.

While there are no compulsory redundancies in the unionised workforce at the terminal, Boland did say that some staff have taken up the offer of voluntary redundancy.

He said staff at Sullom Voe were told this week following a lengthy consultation period.

Boland added that he was unaware if there were any compulsory redundancies at management level at the terminal.

EnQuest was approached for comment but a representative said the company would not comment on individual assets and that the process was still ongoing.

The oil company previously said it was looking to take “decisive action to manage the business in the current challenging economic environment”.

“Given the prevailing low oil price and global demand, the group has reviewed each of its assets and related spending plans,” a spokesperson said in April.

The review of its workforce came after the company confirmed that it no longer intended to restart production in the Heather and Thistle/Deveron fields.