Unite Offshore Bilfinger Branch: Your Future, In Your Hands

Your Future, Your Views on the Major Issues Offshore

Unite is opening up a campaign to put a new, more solid floor under the feet of the offshore workforce. What we stand for is clear: A safer, healthier industry, supported by more balanced rotas and greater security of employment.

For members and workers of the Unite Bilfinger Offshore Branch this means asking some of the same questions we are asking members and workers with OCA, COTA and UKDCA companies. However, it also means asking about the strength of your voice at work and how you can help your Branch win a decent recognition agreement with BIS.

If we are to influence the shape of the future, we need to show that we have the power to effect meaningful change now.

You can be a spectator to a future that is written for you or an author of what is written.

A better future is possible, if you choose to fight for it.

Help us achieve this by taking five minutes to share your views today.

All and any individual responses will be held as strictly private & confidential to Unite and will at no time be shared with management/HR or any other 3rd party.

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* 1. Name

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* 2. Email Address

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* 3. Mobile number

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* 4. Can you confirm that you work offshore with Bilfinger?

Yes

If you answered "No" who do you work for?

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* 5. Name of Installation/Rig you normally mobilise to.

If Ad Hoc or if you have no set installation please write "Ad Hoc"

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* 6. Job Title

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* 7. Job Security:

How secure do you feel in your current employment? (Please check the box that best reflects your view of your current employment security)

Very Secure

Secure

Insecure

Precarious (feel I could be paid off at any time)

No opinion

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* 8. Job Security:

About your employment contract. Please check the box that best reflects your current contractual position

I am on a short, fixed term contract and have less than 2 years continuous service

I have more than 2 years continuous service

I have worked offshore on the same contract for more than 4 years

Other (please specify)

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* 9. Job Security:

How many times have you been made redundant and then re-employed (either by the same or a different company) offshore in the last 4 years?

Please check the box that best applies to your situation

5+ times

4 times

3 times

Twice

Once

I haven't been made redundant in the last 4 years

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* 10. Job Security

How many times in the last 5 years have you felt under threat of redundancy?

5+ times

3+ times

Once

Not at all

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* 11. Job Security:

Is there anything else you would like to tell Unite about your job security

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* 12. Rotas:

What rota are you currently working

3&3

2&3

2/2/2/4

3/4 & 3/5

Other (please specify)

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* 13. Rotas:

Which of the statements below best reflects your view of offshore rotas

3 week working is bad for health and wellbeing. There should be a standard 2&3 rota across the whole North Sea Oil & Gas Industry

3 week working is bad for health and wellbeing. There is no need for a standard rota, just an end to 3 week working offshore

There needs to be fairness and consistency when operators review their rotas. Whatever rota an Operator decides upon the same terms should be applied to all OCA Contractor and Catering companies also. (For example, if an operator wants to keep the 3&3 and offer a %age uplift this should be applied to all and not just Operator employees.)

The length of trips offshore is not important to me. Stable, predictable, employment is more important.

I have no opinion on offshore rotas

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* 14. Rotas

Please tell us, in your own words, your view of offshore rotas and how they impact upon you

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* 15. Your Voice at Work

Bilfinger Offshore Branch is run by a dedicated Branch Officials and Shop Stewards. However, we do not have a proper trade union recognition agreement with BIS.

The next few questions are about the strength of your voice at work currently, what we need to do change things and how you can assist us to win meaningful improvements.

Bilfinger run an Employee Representative Committee (ERC) as a primary method of gathering information and view from the workforce.

Do you know who your Local ERC Rep is?

Yes

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* 16. Your Voice at Work

Do you have confidence that your ERC Rep will affect meaningful and positive change for you, should you raise an important issue with them?

Yes

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* 17. Your Voice at Work

Unite is of the firm view that the only way to effect meaningful change for members at work is with a mix of high membership density, high membership participation and a decent recognition agreement.

Do you back Unite's campaign for independent trade union recognition and can you help make this happen?

Please check all the boxes below that apply to you.

Yes, I will back the campaign for independent trade union recognition and I will actively encourage others to do likewise

Yes, I will back the campaign for independent trade union recognition but I am not in a position to get more actively involved at present.

I have no opinion on this matter

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* 18. Your Voice at Work

In your own words, what are the top 5 things you would like to improve about your terms and conditions at work if/when we achieve trade union recognition for the purposes of collective bargaining?

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* 19. Offshore Trade Union Safety Reps:

Unite is calling for a return of independent trade union (TU) safety reps offshore.

Please check the box that best applies to your view of these calls and share any other opinions in the box below

I would be supportive of a return of independent TU safety reps offshore

The operators and employers manage safety well and there is no need for independent TU safety reps

I do not have a strong opinion either way about this matter

Is there anything else you would like to say about a return of independent TU safety reps?

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* 20. Mental Health Offshore

Mental Health at work is a complex subject. We do not intend to ask about this subject in-depth at this time.

However, the RGU study found that 3 week working had a detrimental impact upon mental health.

Which of the statements below best describe the impact of three week working upon your mental health and wellbeing? (Check all boxes next to the statements you identify/agree with)

3 week working has/had a negative impact upon how I feel/felt about going to work

3 week working has/had a negative impact upon relationships at home

3 week working has/had an impact upon fatigue levels and an ability to concentrate when at work

I have looked for other employment to try and get away from 3 week working

3 week working can be hard but I don't think it has had an impact upon my health and wellbeing

I have had no issues whatsoever with 3 week working

Prefer not to say

Other Impacts (please specify)

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* 21. Mental Health Offshore:

Research in different sectors of the UK economy has shown that precarious or insecure work can impact upon mental health and wellbeing.

Please check all of the statements below that you would agree/identify with

I worry continuously about getting enough work to make ends meet

I worry continuously about being paid off/being made redundant

I sometimes worry about getting enough work to make ends meet

I sometimes worry about being paid off/being made redundant

I rarely worry about getting enough work to make ends meet

I rarely worry about being paid off/being made redundant

Prefer not to say

Other impacts of unstable employment (please tell us in your own words)

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* 22. Mental Health Offshore

Are there any other areas of work that offshore that impact upon your mental health and wellbeing? If so, please tell us in your own words.

If you have any concerns about your ability to cope you can speak with your Unite Rep or Official. You can also speak to your GP or call any of the specialist mental health charities below:

Mind: 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 www.mind.org.uk
Samaritans: 116 123 (free calls) www.samaritans.org
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably): 0300 585 858

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* 23. Internet Access

Unite Offshore is aware that the quality of internet access, in particular Wifi signal strength is in consistent offshore. Some operators have good internet access while others have very poor internet access.

Good access to the internet is important, particularly for staying in touch with family and friends during offshore rotation periods.

How would you generally characterise the quality of internet access offshore (please check the box that reflects your views):

Generally very good. I can do most things I want to on my device

Ok, but could be better

Poor, I can't do much online

Terrible, I can barely access emails and receive/send basic social media messages

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* 24. Your Future, In Your Hands.

The real power of a trade union comes from high membership density and high membership participation.

If we are to make a real difference in the months and years ahead we need as many members and workers to participate in union activity as possible.

Can you help out in any of the following ways? (Please check all boxes that apply to you)

I would share Unite info offshore with workmates

I would get some of my colleagues together to discuss the five items covered in this survey and send back a report to a Unite Organiser

I wold be a point of contact for Unite on my rig

I would like more info on becoming a Unite Rep

I am supportive of what the union is doing but don't feel able to assist at this time

Other (please specify)

Unite Offshore Bilfinger Branch: Your Future, In Your Hands

Your Future, Your Views on the Major Issues Offshore

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* 1. Name

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* 2. Email Address

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* 3. Mobile number

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* 4. Can you confirm that you work offshore with Bilfinger?

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* 5. Name of Installation/Rig you normally mobilise to. If Ad Hoc or if you have no set installation please write "Ad Hoc"

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* 6. Job Title

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* 7. Job Security:How secure do you feel in your current employment? (Please check the box that best reflects your view of your current employment security)

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* 8. Job Security:About your employment contract. Please check the box that best reflects your current contractual position

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* 9. Job Security:How many times have you been made redundant and then re-employed (either by the same or a different company) offshore in the last 4 years?Please check the box that best applies to your situation

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* 10. Job SecurityHow many times in the last 5 years have you felt under threat of redundancy?

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* 11. Job Security:Is there anything else you would like to tell Unite about your job security

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* 12. Rotas:What rota are you currently working

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* 13. Rotas:Which of the statements below best reflects your view of offshore rotas

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* 14. RotasPlease tell us, in your own words, your view of offshore rotas and how they impact upon you

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* 16. Your Voice at WorkDo you have confidence that your ERC Rep will affect meaningful and positive change for you, should you raise an important issue with them?

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* 18. Your Voice at WorkIn your own words, what are the top 5 things you would like to improve about your terms and conditions at work if/when we achieve trade union recognition for the purposes of collective bargaining?

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* 19. Offshore Trade Union Safety Reps:Unite is calling for a return of independent trade union (TU) safety reps offshore.Please check the box that best applies to your view of these calls and share any other opinions in the box below

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* 21. Mental Health Offshore:Research in different sectors of the UK economy has shown that precarious or insecure work can impact upon mental health and wellbeing.Please check all of the statements below that you would agree/identify with

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* 25. Is there anything that your particular employer is doing right now (big or small) that is annoying you and your colleagues at work?

* 5. Name of Installation/Rig you normally mobilise to.

If Ad Hoc or if you have no set installation please write "Ad Hoc"

* 7. Job Security:

How secure do you feel in your current employment? (Please check the box that best reflects your view of your current employment security)

* 8. Job Security:

About your employment contract. Please check the box that best reflects your current contractual position

* 9. Job Security:

How many times have you been made redundant and then re-employed (either by the same or a different company) offshore in the last 4 years?

Please check the box that best applies to your situation

* 10. Job Security

How many times in the last 5 years have you felt under threat of redundancy?

* 11. Job Security:

Is there anything else you would like to tell Unite about your job security

* 12. Rotas:

What rota are you currently working

* 13. Rotas:

Which of the statements below best reflects your view of offshore rotas

* 14. Rotas

Please tell us, in your own words, your view of offshore rotas and how they impact upon you

* 16. Your Voice at Work

Do you have confidence that your ERC Rep will affect meaningful and positive change for you, should you raise an important issue with them?

* 18. Your Voice at Work

In your own words, what are the top 5 things you would like to improve about your terms and conditions at work if/when we achieve trade union recognition for the purposes of collective bargaining?

* 19. Offshore Trade Union Safety Reps:

Unite is calling for a return of independent trade union (TU) safety reps offshore.

Please check the box that best applies to your view of these calls and share any other opinions in the box below

* 21. Mental Health Offshore:

Research in different sectors of the UK economy has shown that precarious or insecure work can impact upon mental health and wellbeing.

Please check all of the statements below that you would agree/identify with