LNG: Chevron May Bypass Unions With Pay Offer

Chevron is preparing to bypass unions and put its pay offer to a direct vote of its Gorgon and Wheatstone workforce amid looming industrial action, unions said.

• At Chevron, around 500 workers started voting on a range of industrial action options at the Gorgon and Wheatstone onshore plants and Wheatstone platform. The ballot will finish by next week.
• The Offshore Alliance union on Tuesday told members that Chevron was planning to put its proposed agreement to a direct vote and urged them to vote to endorse industrial action instead.
• “Chevron HR have indicated their intent to roll out another underdone half-baked EA proposal,” the union said.
• Chevron’s previous attempt to get an agreement voted up at its Wheatstone platform was reused last month.
• At Woodside, workers can already start strike action within seven days’ notice.
• The Offshore Alliance was in an all-day meeting with Woodside on Tuesday in a bid to reach a deal at the gas giant’s North West Shelf platforms before 150 workers decide on industrial action later this week. Sources said positive progress had been made but outstanding issues remain.
• Unions are expected to consult delegates and members on possible industrial action in the next two days.