ABSTRACT

Offshore oil-rig workers are a specific group. Their collective weakness makes their individual terms and conditions of employment of great importance. The managers of the Global Marine ships set their own terms and rates as they run the ships out of an allocated budget. Corporate structure and behaviour are obviously important in determining employment policies and industrial relations attitudes. The basic distinction to be made between the contracts of employment of offshore oil-rig workers is one which follows the division between professional and non-professional employees. Indeed, the most important elements of the contract of employment are usually found in collective agreements made between employers and trade unions. Shell oil Company has a similar system which reflects their more complicated company structure. Although nearly all those who work in the offshore industry have short-term contracts, the company have a universal standard form staff agreement for ex-patriates intended to cover those in the professional category.