Progress being made in talks with gas worker union

Energy giant Woodside says “positive progress” is being made in talks with unions, who have threatened to strike over pay and conditions.

More than 150 Offshore Alliance members on Woodside’s offshore LNG platforms Goodwyn Alpha, North Rankin Complex and Angel, off the coast of Western Australia, this week voted 99 per cent in favour of taking protected industrial action to progress their bargaining claims.

The federal opposition has warned any action could disrupt gas supply, push up domestic prices and threaten Australia’s trade global reputation.

A Woodside spokeswoman told AAP on Friday regular meetings continued following the ballot, which allowed protected industrial action to start within a 30-day window upon the company receiving seven working days’ advance notice.

“Woodside has engaged actively and constructively in the bargaining process,” she said.

“Positive progress is being made and the parties have reached an in-principle agreement on a number of issues that are key to the workforce.”

The company did not oppose the protected action ballot applications.

On the broader issues, she said the team was “committed to providing secure energy to local and global customers and security of employment to our people and we remain focused on safe, reliable supply”.

Offshore Alliance members say Woodside employees have for more than three decades been covered by individual contracts which have failed to provide job security, a say in rostering arrangements, certainty in key employment terms and industry standard pay and conditions.

The industrial action could include refusing to load tankers or vessels with LNG or condensate, up to complete stoppages of work.

Talks are also ongoing with resources company Chevron, relating to the Gorgon and Wheatstone Downstream facilities.

The alliance said agreement with the company had not been reached on job security, rosters, transfers to other Chevron worksites, training standards, travel arrangements and rates of pay.

The Offshore Alliance involves the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) and the Maritime Union of Australia.

AWU WA secretary Brad Gandy said gas producers operating in Australian waters needed to come to terms with workers wanting an enterprise bargaining agreement with industry standard terms and conditions.

“Offshore Alliance members are highly skilled, work in a dangerous industry and work unsocial rosters which means extended time away from their families,” he said.

“Employers in this industry like Woodside and Chevron need to recognise this and provide them the terms and conditions of employment they deserve.”

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said it was important for the unions and employers to work out their issues.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said no one wanted to see a disrupted gas supply.

“It would be a disaster for domestic prices here, which are already high enough, and our trading partners would look at Australia as an unreliable partner and look elsewhere for those contracts,” he told Nine.

– AAP