# Apache Plans to Keep Forties Charlie Staffed During Scheduled Strike

By John Kim

Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/business/37201
Published: 2026-10-22T00:05:23.000Z
Updated: 2026-10-22T00:05:23.000Z
Section: Business

> Unite scheduled the 24-hour action from 1 a.m. ET (0500 UTC) Oct. 21 to 12:59 a.m. ET (0459 UTC) Oct. 22, covering more than 160 workers across seven assets.

Apache North Sea Production Ltd. planned to keep personnel at Forties Charlie during a scheduled 24-hour strike to operate the platform and support other producers using a major North Sea oil pipeline.

Unite the Union scheduled the action from 1 a.m. ET (0500 UTC) Oct. 21 to 12:59 a.m. ET (0459 UTC) Oct. 22. The planned action covered more than 160 workers across Forties Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta and Echo, plus Beryl Alpha and Beryl Bravo.

Apache’s plan was to support production by other companies even if output from all five of its Forties platforms stopped. Apache said any resulting reduction in pipeline pressure would be comparable to one during routine maintenance. Unite warned that a shutdown at Charlie could threaten the wider system.

The Forties Pipeline System, operated by INEOS, runs from Forties Charlie to an onshore terminal at Cruden Bay. Its nominal capacity is more than 600,000 barrels per day. Forties crude is included in the Dated Brent price assessment for physical North Sea crude.

The dispute concerns pay. Apache described its offer to bargaining-unit employees as a 4% increase, matching the raise given to nonunion employees earlier in the year. Unite said the rejected offer ranged from a pay freeze to below-inflation increases. Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said, “That is reckless behaviour and it is driven by shameful corporate greed.”

The scheduled action was due to end at 12:59 a.m. ET (0459 UTC) Oct. 22.