A second ballot regarding industrial action completed on 14 October saw 410 members vote 91pc in support of fresh strikes at the 8.9mn t/yr Wheatstone LNG, Wheatstone offshore gas platform and the 15.6mn t/yr Gorgon LNG facilities, scheduled to begin on 19 October, the OA said.
"Members have made it clear that they want Chevron to stop twisting the draft terms of our EBAs and are prepared to ramp up protected industrial action until our EBAs are properly sorted," the OA said on 15 October. "Members have also raised concerns about the need for Chevron to permanently exclude behavioural standards from level progression and want answers from Chevron about the perceived attack on members' annual bonuses."
Chevron has criticised the union's plans to continue the scheduled strikes and said officials were failing to adhere to recommendations made by Australia's workplace umpire the Fair Work Commission (FWC).
"We are extremely disappointed that despite a strong recommendation in writing from commissioner (Bernie) Riordan to the unions to withdraw protected industrial action while drafting of EBAs is finalised, (on 14 October) the unions advised that members have voted not to cancel the action planned for 19 October," a Chevron Australia spokesman said on 15 October.
Chevron claimed the union leaders have urged members not to withdraw from the industrial action and said it had made genuine efforts to engage with the FWC process last week, including accepting Riordan's clarifications on draft EBA items interpreted differently by the parties.
The energy major criticised the union for undermining "considerable progress" it said had been achieved before the latest round of talks began last week.
Further FWC sessions mediated by Riordan are taking place on 16 October via online conference.
