Chevron has asked the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to help resolve its dispute with unions representing workers on its Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG projects.
Hundreds of workers at the facilities, which account for roughly five per cent of global LNG supply, started striking on Friday after negotiations with the energy giant broke down.
Chevron said it will be applying to the Fair Work Commission for an intractable bargaining declaration (IBD), which would end strikes and allow the FWC to come to an agreement.
“Unfortunately, following numerous meetings and conciliation sessions with the Fair Work Commission, no agreement has been reached as the unions are asking for terms significantly above the market,” Chevron said in a statement, reported Reuters.
However, in a statement on Facebook, the union representing the workers, Offshore Alliance, said they are opposing Chevron’s IBD and will continue with protected industrial action (PIA) until it secures a union-negotiated EBA.
“The Offshore Alliance has not once failed to deliver securing members a union negotiated EBA, after we commenced bargaining,” stated Offshore Alliance.
The PIA notice served to Chevron by Offshore Alliance lawyers last week saw roughly 500 workers commence short strikes on Friday 8 September, and will escalate to two weeks of 24-hour strikes from September 14.
The FWC has listed Chevron’s IBD application for a hearing at 3pm today in Melbourne.
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