Last-minute deal quells gas platform strike

A pay dispute threatening to see most workers on several Pilbara gas platforms down tools has been averted after Woodside Energy and union reps burned the midnight oil to iron out a deal.

Offshore Alliance’s 150-odd members working on three Woodside gas platforms will this morning meet to back the deal struck following Wednesday’s lengthy meeting.

That agreement will likely calm the nerves of pundits across the globe who were concern strikes at both Woodside and Chevron’s operations could hamper energy markets.

The dispute centred around workers on the North Rankin Complex, Goodwyn Alpha and Angel platforms which supply gas to Woodside’s North West Shelf on Murujuga near Karratha.

Offshore Alliance spokesperson and Australian Workers Union WA secretary Brad Gandy said it was pleasing to see industrial action averted.

“Despite the lengthy road to this point, we are relieved that Woodside has now taken a more pragmatic approach and decided to offer our members an enterprise agreement with industry standard terms and conditions,” he said.

“Offshore Alliance members working at Woodside will now vote on whether to endorse the agreement and also whether plans to provide Woodside with a notice of industrial action will be withdrawn.

“If Offshore Alliance members at the Woodside NWS Platforms accept this deal it will leave Chevron as the sole operator in the WA gasfields without an Enterprise Agreement with its workforce.”

A ballot for industrial action at Chevron’s operations will close today.