13 March 2014, News Wires – tatoil has dispensed with a proposal to scrap free coffee at helicopter terminals for offshore workers after stirring up a heated debate with the controversial idea.
The move, which sparked an outcry from unions, was reportedly intended to save the company about Nkr3.3 million ($548,000) a year as part of swingeing annual cutbacks of about $5 billion to 2016 and $1.3 billion a year thereafter.
It had left a particularly bitter taste for offshore workers as land-based staff, including chief executive Helge Lund, would still be able to enjoy a gratis latte.
The black stuff was also flowing freely for delegates to a company event in Stavanger this week for suppliers and stakeholders.
Despite management’s decision to drop the coffee cut, other equally unpalatable savings may yet be on the menu for Statoil staff, with reduced canteen catering and the elimination of free newspapers also reported to be under consideration.
If implemented, such cuts may be even more difficult to swallow.
– Upstream