Issue #1441      3 February 2010

Striking Pluto workers return to work

Lynn Hulm

Striking Pluto workers in WA decided at a meeting held on Saturday, January 30 to return to work amid threats from Fair Work Australia and Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard of hefty fines and imprisonment as is allowable under the Australian Building and Construction Improvement Act.

Workers went on strike to express their frustration at Woodside’s changes to accommodation arrangements for fly-in-fly-out workers. The changes would mean workers would be asked to check in and check out of their accommodation every work cycle.

Eight days of industrial action have passed as workers fight to protect the hard won basic accommodation conditions that have given them some security and stability in otherwise rough conditions which see them work for extended hours often in difficult climatic conditions.

The accommodation changes were the last straw for workers who already experience great upheavals in their lives to accommodate this mode of work which saves companies millions of dollars in avoiding building infrastructure for a permanent local workforce.

Currently the Woodside project says it is behind and that 25 percent more workers are needed and the company claims motelling will allow them to achieve this increase in the workforce.

Workers and their unions are rightfully demanding that Woodside build the necessary accommodation to cater for the desired increase to the workforce and to leave in place the conditions that they signed up to at the beginning of the project.

Woodside have agreed to meet with unions this week.

Next article – Sad truth in UN report

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