MORE than 400 Unite workers at Bilfinger UK have backed strike action as a pensions dispute at the offshore maintenance company escalates.

At present, workers’ pensions only qualify for contributions from Bilfinger if they earn between £6,240 and £50,270, effectively capping the firm’s contributions at £1,320.90 per year.

The union argues this policy is an outlier, with private industry on average paying 6 per cent into employees’ pension pots regardless of earnings.

Urging the company — which netted a record £14 million in profit in 2023 contracting for oil and gas giants like BP, CNR, Ineos, and Ithaca — to adopt a gross salary model, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite members are losing out on thousands of pounds every year in company pension contributions compared with other workers, which is completely unacceptable.” 

Unite industrial officer Paula Buchan warned: “Dozens of offshore installations will now be hit by widespread disruption due to workers being treated in an unacceptable and unfair way. 

“The blame for that strike action lies squarely at the door of Bilfinger HQ.”

Bilfinger UK was contacted for comment.