Union foe Altrad tells workers it is ‘committed’ to bargaining for Wheatstone, Gorgon agreement

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Union foe Altrad tells workers it is ‘committed’ to bargaining for Wheatstone, Gorgon agreement

A multinational contractor locked in pay talks with 140 Pilbara gas maintenance workers who claim they are ready to take industrial action has assured it is “committed” to striking a deal.

The Offshore Alliance on Wednesday said more than 125 members had voted “100 per cent yes” in a “number of ballot questions” gauging their support for protected industrial action against oil and gas servicer Altrad.

The parties have been trying to pin down terms of a new enterprise agreement that expired six months ago, covering all Chevron facilities including Gorgon and Wheatstone’s downstream and offshore platform, but to no avail.

Despite this, Altrad has now assured it was committed to finding common ground.

“Altrad ******** committed to the ongoing bargaining process,” a company spokeswoman said.

“We will continue to seek an equitable outcome to negotiations that is in the interests of both our employees and Altrad.”

The Union has 30 days to exercise its right to protected industrial action starting from when the results were declared, or seek an extension from the Fair Work Commission.

The Offshore Alliance is a partnership between the Maritime Union of Australia and *********** Workers Union and represents mechanical technicians, electrical and instrumentation technicians, scaffolders, riggers, painters and plasterers working at Gorgon and Wheatstone.

Commenting after the ballot results were counted on Wednesday, *********** Workers Union WA branch secretary Brad Gandy insisted members working for Altrad were “simply seeking alignment with the conditions currently paid by other contractors at similar facilities.”

“Members of the Offshore Alliance are forced to take industrial action when their employers refuse to agree to reasonable increases to current employment conditions,” he said.

US oil and gas giant Chevron avoided publicly weighing into the dispute, which marks the latest development in an ongoing stretch of employee unrest in the sector as unions look to pin down new agreements.

Chevron and direct employees this time last year avoided an escalation to the Fair Work Commission after agreeing to terms set out by the industrial umpire that covered 350 workers.

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