Queensland LNG projects heading towards industrial brawl over fly-in, fly-out rosters

A $60 billion project could grind to a halt as 8000 Queensland-based fly-in fly-out workers face off against a global construction giant.

Gerard Baden- Clay. Picture: Marsden Tim

The $60 billion Curtis Island gas project is heading towards an industrial brawl of potential strikes and lock outs as 8000 Queensland-based workers and a global construction giant face off over their fly-in, fly-out roster.

Four major unions are threatening action over Bechtel’s demands that the workforce remain on a roster that means they work four weeks followed by one week off, a deal they agreed to in the previous enterprise agreement.

Unions are demanding a 3 and 1 roster and have won approval to go to a vote of workers for protected action. Bechtel’s offer has already been rejected twice by the workers.

Adding tension to the issue is that gas has already started to arrive at the island, piped from the Surat Basin, and one company, QGC, is scheduled to start exporting to Asia in December while others have another year.

Bechtel has fired back warning the workers of potential lock outs and stand downs of non-striking workers if unions take action.

The affected workers are some of the best paid tradesman in Queensland with electricians earning $160,000 and labourers earning $135,000, but the toll of working away from home for four weeks straight of 10-hour days is telling and even the company admits it’s not for everyone, but that is also the reason they are highly paid.

It has also offered an average 13 per cent pay rise as part of the new enterprise agreement.

Bechtel has warned that its offer is only on the table until the end of July and that it will not buckle to demands.

“Bechtel can respond to those employees taking protected industrial action by taking action itself,’’ a note distributed to Curtis Island supervisors said.

“An example of this is that Bechtel can lock out employees who have taken protected industrial action. Such lock outs can be for an indefinite period.’’

It said it also had the right to stand down sections of the workforce who cannot be productively employed.

“These employees may not be the ones taking protected industrial action but nevertheless will lose money because of that action,” Bechtel said.

“It is business as usual at the projects. The existing agreement, though it expired on June 5, stays in place until it is terminated or replaced.

“The deal on the table is a fair and reasonable deal for all parties with many concessions won by the workforce, particularly in the current economic environment.

“These projects were planned to 4 and 1 rosters and non-local employees signed up to a 10-hour work day and that will not change for these projects.’’

The unions did not respond yesterday.

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