LEADERS of Britain’s oil and gas rig workers demanded government action yesterday to protect jobs in the face of falling oil prices.

Last year the RMT union warned that plummeting prices would pose problems unless action was taken and the Office of National Statistics (ONS) now says profitability has nose-dived.

RMT accused ministers of “irresponsibility” for ignoring the warnings.

National secretary Steve Todd said: “These figures confirm that the next government should support RMT’s call for protections for the offshore workforce which would prevent a premature decline in exploration and production activity offshore.

“Any further support to oil and gas companies should be conditional on training and jobs for British offshore workers, as well as an end to the imposition of longer shifts for no extra pay which continues to undermine industrial relations offshore.”