Offshore Alliance claims workers ready for industrial action at Gorgon, Wheatstone in Altrad pay dispute

Australian Workers Union WA branch secretary Brad Gandy says frustrated Altrad gas maintenance workers are in favour of taking industrial action at Chevron’s Gorgon and Wheatstone operations. The Offshore Alliance on Wednesday said more than 125 Altrad workers had voted “100 per cent yes” in a “number of ballot questions” gauging their support for protected industrial action against the multinational oil and gas servicer. Altrad and the partnership between the Maritime Union of Australia and Australian Workers Union have been at loggerheads for the past six months trying to pin down the terms of a new enterprise agreement covering all Chevron facilities including Gorgon and Wheatstone’s downstream and offshore platform. The Offshore Alliance has been threatening to escalate the dispute if Altrad doesn’t put forward a better offer for the 140 mechanical technicians, electrical and instrumentation technicians, scaffolders, riggers, painters and plasterers being represented in negotiations. And stoking further tensions between the union and the contractor, Mr Gandy said alliance members were “prepared to take industrial action as soon as it becomes available” at site. “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. “In the case of Altrad, our members are simply seeking alignment with the conditions currently paid by other contractors at similar facilities.” Spokespeople for Altrad and Chevron have been contacted for comment. Lawyers had filed an application for a ballot in September to determine majority support for protected industrial action. Escalating tensions between the union and Altrad marks the latest development in an ongoing stretch of employee unrest in the WA oil and gas sector as unions look to pin down new agreements.