Prelude employees, unions and Shell are engaged in a bitter industrial dispute over a new enterprise agreement.
Loading
The Offshore Alliance, an alliance between the AWU and Maritime Union of Australia, said an earlier proposal by Shell was rejected by 95 per cent of employees.
The unions have been seeking higher pay for staff and for the company to not use as many contractors.
AWU national secretary Daniel Walton said the union has attempted to bargain in good faith for 19 months.
“Industrial action was a last resort. Instead of genuinely engaging we have been met with nothing but stonewalling and unnecessary aggression and escalation,” he said.
“If Shell is actually serious about a lock-out it will significantly increase the chances of breakdown and endanger the safety of workers on site.
“It will also lock in a loss of production into the future and cement the Prelude’s status as a white elephant. Shell will also encounter major issues with the regulator and struggle to maintain its license to operate.
“If a lock out comes to pass it will be a catastrophic failure of management and an indictment on Shell as a company. ”
A social media post on Facebook by the alliance suggested Shell had lost several hundred million dollars since it slowed then stopped production.
“The Offshore Alliance has put Shell on notice that its refusal to get back to the bargaining table is in breach of the Fair Work Act and will inevitably result in legal proceedings in the Fair Work Commission,” the post said.
In June, WAtoday revealed the Prelude was running with critical positions filled by crew not fully qualified and more than 200 safety alarms out of action.
Follow WAtoday on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter for handpicked selections of the day’s biggest local, national and international news.
For all the latest Business News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.