Woodside's Pluto workers walk off

Between 600 and 1000 workers have walked off the job on Woodside's $12 billion Pluto project after being threatened with eviction over an issue with the worker's dongas, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union has claimed.

The AMWU has condemned Woodside and their contractors for the latest threats to sack and evict hundreds of workers on the project who refused to sign a form agreeing to the so-called 'motelling plan'.

'Motelling' is the term used to describe the movement of workers from their current or existing donga to a new donga at the start of every rotation.

A spokesperson for Woodside couldn't confirm the exact number of employees who have walked off the job nor when they would be likely to return.

AMWU secretary Steve McCartney said threats were not the way to solve the impasse.

"Woodside and Foster Wheeler Worley are only provoking their employees by not having genuine dialogue with their workers," Mr McCartney said.

A Foster Wheeler Worley document obtained by WA Business News dated January 21 outlines that "all residents wishing to be provided accommodation at Gap Ridge Village on a motelling basis" are required to sign an acknowledgement form agreeing with the terms.

"If you do not provide a signed acknowledgement form by 7.30pm on 22/1/10 accommodation cannot be provided for you at Gap Ridge Village and you must remove all your belongings from the room you currently occupy at Gap Ridge Village by no later than 12noon on 24 January 2010," the document stated.

"If you do not intend to submit the acknowledgement form by 7.30pm on 22/1/10, we strongly recommend you advise your Employer without delay."

While Woodside confirmed the 'motelling' program had led, at least in part, to two incidents of illegal industrial action at the site, the first occurring before Christmas, the company would maintain the seemingly controversial policy.

"We're required to maximize the use of the rooms we have in Gap Ridge Village and it's not unreasonable to assume that when people return to their homes in Perth and elsewhere that the rooms they had occupied are occupied by others," the spokesperson said.

"The (Australian Manufacturing Workers) union says the walk off is related to 'motelling' so we can only presume that's the case.

"It's always disappointing when industrial action takes place."

Woodside said it was too early to comment about a legal response to what the company feels is illegal action.

Mr McCartney said, from the feedback he's received, that the workers are very angry with what has transpired.

"What that threat does to a worker is to say 'you have nowhere to stay, thousands of kilometres away from home'," Mr McCartney told WA Business News.

"It looks to me as if it's a fairly heavy handed tactic.

"And some of the main problems are the way it's been handled as people are concerned over the details of the contract of employment as there's not enough information.

"From the feedback I've received the workers on the job haven't had enough information to make a decision."

Mr McCartney admitted to being frustrated with the existing contractual arrangements.

"They've got an employer-employee agreement so we don't get the opportunity to talk on our members behalf and we can clearly see the IR on this job is going all wrong," he said.

"What we believe is fair is if they have good communications with all stakeholders and talk honestly, then they'll be getting a better result.

"We should get around a table and talk rather than demand or threaten.

"Those days were over I thought."

The AMWU has been in contact with the other unions involved on this project and are looking to place a court injunction on Foster Wheeler Worley to cease this action and to hold genuine good faith discussions.