‘No reasonable prospect’ of agreement: Chevron

Negotiations between Offshore Alliance and Chevron have failed to reach agreement this week, ahead of a Fair Work Commission hearing on Friday.

The parties re-entered talks earlier this week ahead of the Fair Work hearing, initiated after Chevron applied for intractable bargaining status over industrial action at its Gorgon and Wheatstone facilities.

The action has included full strikes since last week, but the two parties remain some way from consensus after conversations alongside the Fair Work commissioner.

Offshore Alliance spokesperson Brad Gandy said some concessions had been made in recent negotiation, but the parties were some way off.

“The negotiations before the commissioner were useful and resulted in some concessions on both sides,” he said.

“However, the Offshore Alliance and its members want to secure an enterprise agreement that locks in industry standard terms and conditions and the offer made by Chevron at the conclusion of the negotiations failed to meet that standard.

“Offshore Alliance members remain open to compromise, but Chevron must table an offer that doesn’t have Chevron providing lesser terms and conditions of employment to its employees when compared to other employers in the sector.”

Chevron disputed Offshore Alliance’s claim that it was offering lesser terms than other employers and said there was “no reasonable prospect” of agreement between the parties.

“No agreement has been reached with the unions following further conciliation sessions held this week with the Fair Work Commission,” a spokesperson said.

“Chevron Australia engaged in meaningful negotiations in an effort to finalise enterprise agreements with market competitive remuneration and conditions, however, the unions continue to ask for terms significantly above the market.”

The escalation of negotiations between Chevron and Offshore Alliance came shortly following an 11^th hour deal struck between the unions and Woodside Energy, reached late in August.

Friday’s Fair Work Commission hearing will be the first undertaken under new laws rolled out by the Albanese government earlier this year.