Union-aligned workers at Inpex’s Ichthys gas facility could walk off the job, after the Offshore Alliance applied to escalate stalled negotiations over conditions.
Union-aligned workers at Inpex’s Ichthys gas facility could walk off the job, after the Offshore Alliance applied to escalate stalled negotiations over conditions.
The union partnership today applied to the Fair Work Commission for approval to conduct a ballot of its members at the Inpex operation, claiming “growing frustration” among staff over a lack of progress on a new enterprise agreement.
The union claims the 400 offshore and onshore workers at Ichthys and Inpex’s Darwin LNG facility “felt like they had no other option” but to take the step – the first towards potential strike action.
“After six months of negotiations, INPEX has failed to agree to even the most basic claims put forward by its workforce,” Offshore Alliance spokesman and AWU Assistant National Secretary Chris Donovan said.
“Workers who operate some of the most complex and high-risk facilities in the country are being asked to accept an agreement that does nothing to address their concerns about pay, conditions and job security.
“In an industry where contracting out work to the lowest bidder is rife, our members reasonably want Inpex to commit to continuing to direct hire its current workforce.
“The company hasn’t even been able to do that."
But Inpex has put forward a proposed enterprise agreement, and said its position was fair and competitive.
“It maintains alignment of our employment conditions with the external market and meets or exceeds peer conditions in several areas,” senior vice president corporate Bill Townsend said.
“Inpex’s preference remains to reach agreement without disruption, and the company continues to engage in the bargaining process.”
The company said it had extensive engaged employees, bargaining representatives and unions to seek and address feedback.
Industry group the Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association lashed the union’s move, claiming it was seeking to push employee salaries above half a million dollars a year.
“These are not responsible or incremental claims,” AREEA deputy chief executive Tara Diamond said.
“They are an attempt to significantly lift pay and allowance structures for a workforce that is already among the highest paid in Australia.
“Inpex employees are typically earning between $300,000 and $400,000 per year.
“The Offshore Alliance’s claims would push that well beyond $500,000 on average.”
If granted permission by Fair Work, the Offshore Alliance would be allowed to survey its members over the potential to take industrial action – a ballot which could pave the way for strike action.
The move echoes that taken by Offshore Alliance against Chevron in 2023, where strike action was taken after a protracted period of negotiation.
Offshore Alliance is a partnership between the The Australian Workers Union and the Maritime Union of Australia.
