Offshore Alliance has announced industrial actions at Chevron sites will soon cease after the union and Chevron both accepted recommendations put forward by the Fair Work Commission.
Fair Work Commission Commissioner Riordan released a set of recommendations on Thursday on the outstanding dispute between Offshore Alliance and Chevron.
“In my view, the parties are close to achieving their desired outcome of registered enterprise agreements to cover the wages and employment conditions for employees working for Chevron at their three facilities in the north-west of Western Australia,” Commissioner Riordan said.
“The parties have been negotiating for these agreements for a long period of time and have spent countless hours at the negotiating table. These discussions have resulted in widespread agreement on the majority of provisions of the proposed enterprise agreements. It would be a very unfortunate circumstance if the parties did not utilise the good work that has been done during this period in adopting these agreed outcomes,” the Commissioner added.
The proposed enterprise agreements, which reflect the Commissioner’s recommendations, include significant changes in employment terms and conditions, such as increased remuneration, job security, locked-in rosters, career progression, and returning all employees to a 40% roster.
On Thursday night, Chevron released a statement announcing the company has accepted the recommendations, according to a report by ABC News.
“After considering the recommendation, Chevron has accepted the recommendation to resolve all outstanding issues and finalise the agreements,” a company spokesperson said.
“Chevron Australia has consistently engaged in meaningful negotiations in an effort to finalise Enterprise Agreements with market competitive remuneration and conditions,” the spokesperson added.
Offshore Alliance has endorsed the recommendations following a meeting between members from Chevron’s Gorgon, Wheatstone Platform, and Wheatstone Downstream gas facilities.
Offshore Alliance spokesperson AWU WA Secretary Brad Gandy stated that members carefully considered the recommendations before endorsing them.
“The Offshore Alliance is a member-led union and at a late night mass meeting members endorsed the latest offer which incorporates the Fair Work Commission’s recommendations,” Gandy added.
The Offshore Alliance will now collaborate with Chevron to finalise the drafting of the three agreements, and members will soon end their present strike.
The Offshore Alliance is an alliance between The Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) and the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA).
