Union president Kevin Kelly said a tentative agreement was rejected earlier this month by about 95 per cent of the 420 unionized workers at the Hibernia platform.
Both sides met Wednesday, but he said nothing was resolved.
“They said there is no more money and all they were willing to do was move stuff around within the tentative deal money-wise,” said Kelly, president of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers, Local 2121.
“Our last agreement was arbitrated. Sooner or later, there has to be a negotiated deal.”
Kelly said the union is looking for higher raises over three years than 2.5 per cent, three per cent and 3.25 per cent.
“Not everyone in the offshore makes the biggest kind of money.
“And there’s a lot of risk here as witnessed in the helicopter crash, plus working in an oil facility there’s a lot of danger, too.” - Union president Kevin Kelly
“And there’s a lot of risk here as witnessed in the helicopter crash, plus working in an oil facility there’s a lot of danger, too.”
Another key issue for the union is shop days that would require workers to spend several days working on equipment onshore once their three-week shift at the platform ends.
“Some of these people don’t live in the St. John’s area, so they’re away from their home three weeks at a time.
“Then, they’d have to spend time in the shop besides that before they get back to see their families.”
Offshore workers typically spend 21 days working on the platform and 21 days off onshore.
mbaird@thetelegram.com
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