Woodside fires up over new IR laws

Woodside Petroleum has brought into question the effectiveness of the new workplace relations system after the majority of the workforce at its $12 billion Pluto project voted to extend an illegal strike to Saturday.

Woodside today confirmed that the majority of their 3,000-strong construction workforce at the project remains on strike following a vote by workers this morning.

The workers have been on strike for six days now over a plan by Woodside to allocate new dongas to workers at the start of every shift rotation, otherwise known as "motelling".

The latest strike was sparked by a threat from Woodside and contractor Forster Wheeler Worley to evict disgruntled workers from the Gap Ridge accommodation village if they refused to agree to the new living arrangements.

On Saturday, Fair Work Australia ordered the striking workers to go back to work or risk facing a $22,000 individual fine.

"This strike raises concerns that the national workplace relations system does not provide an effective deterrent to unlawful industrial action," Woodside said in a statement.

"These workers are defying an order of Fair Work Australia (the "independent umpire") to cease industrial action.

"What is the value of the independent umpire if workers feel able to ignore its orders? Are there suitable means to enforce these orders?

"This is a dispute over a trivial matter. The standard of accommodation of Gap Ridge Village is extremely high, and it is unreasonable for workers to expect to maintain the same rooms every time they arrive in Karratha for a fresh roster.

"Motelling has already been accepted by unions on other similar projects. It has become evident that this action is not about motelling but larger industrial motives."

Woodside said it expects its contractors to consider all actions available to them, including the possibility of legal proceedings, to recover loss and damages.

"Woodside will consider all options available to the company," it said.

A workers' spokesman said today they would meet again tomorrow to try to settle the dispute with Woodside and Foster Wheeler in a bid to put a proposal to workers on Saturday.

"Hopefully we can sit down because we want to go back to work," the spokesman said.

"The problem is Foster Wheeler and also Woodside have refused to sit down with any union delegates whatsoever.

"It's all about accommodation. If you're up here for a year, you're in your donga - that is your home.

"It's a health and safety concern - you don't know who's been sharing the room, what room you're going to or whether it's been cleaned properly."