Chevron Australia receives strike notice at LNG plants

Up to 500 workers at Chevron Australia's LNG facilities could walk off the job again from next week after the Offshore Alliance (OA) union filed a notice of intent to restart strikes.

Chevron confirmed receipt of notices of an intention to take protected industrial action at the 15.6mn t/yr Gorgon LNG, the Wheatstone offshore gas platform and the 8.9mn t/yr Wheatstone LNG facilities just after 8pm Western Australia time (00:00 GMT) on 9 October.

The company said it had been informed fresh work stoppages and partial work bans would start from 19 October, nearly one month after unions agreed to end a previous round of strikes.

The renewed strike threat comes after the OA — a union jointly run by the Australian Workers' Union and the Maritime Union of Australia — last week claimed Chevron had reneged on promises to abide by recommendations of the Fair Work Commission (FWC), Australia's industrial relations arbiter.

Chevron said it had applied to the FWC for the assistance of commissioner Bernie Riordan, who previously oversaw talks between the sides, to conclude drafting enterprise agreements for Gorgon and Wheatstone facilities.

The firm said drafting stalled on a "small number of items that the parties interpret differently" relating to allowances, accommodation and flights for training and the sharing of cabins on Wheatstone offshore gas platform.

"While we don't believe that industrial action is necessary, given we are seeking the assistance of the FWC to resolve the small number of outstanding items between the parties, we will continue to take steps to maintain safe and reliable operations in the event of disruption at our facilities," a Chevron Australia spokesman said.

By Tom Major