SEVEN TUC-affillated unions orJanising North Sea workers have ormed a joint body across the sector, in a direct response to the challenge of the Offshore Industry Liaison Committee.
Jut the credibility of the new body Unione Co-ordinating Committee -has already been severely dented by a boycott from the hard right ABEU and electricians" union, the largest in the industry.
AEEU Is refusing to play ball because of the presence of EPIU, an earfier breakaway from electricians' section, on OlUCC. The romaining participants are the TGWU, MSF, RMT, GMB, BALPA and NUMAST, The formation of an effective joint committee had been a key OILC Istence as a cross-union rank-andOILC general secretary Ronnie MacDonald told Tribune last week: *There is one simple question: is the new committee the breakthrough that has sluded us for all these yeara? I'm pessimistic, but Ill be dellahted to be proved wrong.
While the formation of a body like untortunate likellhood is that it will prove little more than a bureaucrats' alking shop The OILC. meanwhile, has consolidated itself as a real force in the sector, and is now the obvious choice for offshore workere serious about entorcing health and safety sumera- ans sua moro airsan than wages in a relativety woll-pald but highty dangerous industry. trom both OlÜCC and the TUC Is not of its own choosina it should be allowed Into both bodles af once.