The building watchdog has thrown its support behind CBI Constructors in legal action against more than 100 workers who went on an eight-day strike last year at the North West Shelf expansion project.
The Australian Building and Construction Commission said today that after conducting its own investigation into the industrial action, it had resolved to become the second applicant in the proceeding.
The proceeding centres on a contract extension made to 209 employees that were working on the phase five expansion project at the North West Shelf gas operation.
The employees are the respondents in the case.
CBI claims that prior to the extension, all employees were told their employment conditions would remain the same as the work was a continuation of the original project they were hired on.
However, after meeting with their unions, the AMWU and the CFMEU, the workers demanded that CBI terminate their employment, pay out their redundancy entitlements and immediately re-employ them to continue the work on the extended project.
CBI refused the workers' demands and subsequently, more than 150 employees went on strike for eight days during October last year.
CBI claims that more than 12,720 man hours were lost to industrial action.
The ABCC said it will file a Statement of Claim shortly outlining its allegations.
A directions hearing has not yet been listed.
