An article published 25 March 2015 by ContractorUK.com under the headline:
Royal Dutch Shell cuts IT contractor pay rates
Royal Dutch Shell has reduced pay for IT contractors, telling such temporary technology workers to lower their rates by 15% or face termination.
The Angel-Dutch oil giant told ContractorUK that current market volatility has made the need to reduce costs “across our business” more urgent.
But a Shell spokesman suggested that the company hasn’t just singled out IT contractors, as it is currently “pursuing a number of [other] initiatives to manage costs”.
He declined to be drawn on how Shell arrived at the figure of 15% as the cut IT contractors have been asked to make, even when reminded that BP has reduced rates by the same margin.
The cuts for IT contractors at both companies come after a prolonged fall in the oil price, which has more than halved since the summer of 2014.
In its latest financial report, Shell reflected: “Prolonged periods of low oil and gas prices… could result in projects being delayed or cancelled and/or in the impairment of some assets
“They may also impact our ability to maintain our long-term investment programme.”
The Shell spokesman said the thinking behind the rate reduction was to “improve the competitive performance of the business, in accordance with our global corporate strategy.”
The spokesman added: “This includes working with our contractors to identify opportunities to improve efficiency and performance.”
But one affected Shell contractor working at the company’s Projects & Technology unit doesn’t feel like he’s been treated like much of a partner.
“We have just 2 days to accept [the 15% rate cut] or our contract is up”, he said.
“Little does the CEO know that I [am going to] leave… [so] it should be interesting to see what happens.”
For those IT contractors thinking of fighting the rate reduction, a contracts lawyer cautioned that there was little chance that Shell has left itself exposed.
“It depends on the terms of the contract; but if Shell has a right to terminate the contract on ‘X’ days notice (or by immediate notice), then they also have the right to say the following:
“‘you have ‘X’ days to consider whether or not to accept this change, and if you do not accept it then your contract will end,’” said Roger Sinclair, a legal consultant at egos.
The Shell spokesman said: “Shell seeks to maintain competitive rates for products and services, commensurate with relevant market developments.”
This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
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A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
