Australian union group the Offshore Alliance (OA) has struck a deal with Australian independent Woodside Energy for an enterprise agreement covering offshore platform workers, avoiding any potential strike action causing recent volatility in European gas markets.
The OA — a coalition of the Australian Workers' Union and the Maritime Union of Australia representing the platform staff — said it has reached an agreement with Woodside on pay and conditions, which it would shortly put to a vote of its members.
Representatives of over 150 members on Woodside's Goodwyn Alpha, North Rankin and Angel gas platforms, part of the 16.9mn t/yr North West Shelf LNG project, are expected to endorse the offer at meetings held on 24 August.
"It's pleasing that Woodside has made our members a strong offer without industrial action being taken," OA spokesman Brad Gandy said on 24 August. "OA members were at all times prepared to take whatever action necessary to secure an industry standard enterprise agreement."
Focus now turns to oil and gas giant Chevron's Australian operations after Australia's Fair Work Commission last week approved union members from platforms servicing its 8.9mn t/yr Wheatstone LNG to vote on taking protected industrial action.
Onshore employees at Wheatstone and Chevron's 15.6mn t/yr Gorgon LNG facility will return ballots on taking protected industrial action on 24 August, while Wheatstone platform members will return ballots on 28 August, an OA spokesman said on 21 August.
The Woodside deal leaves Chevron as the sole operator in the Western Australian gas industry without an enterprise agreement with its workforce, the OA said.
