AMWU says Inpex roster changes ‘disrupting workers’ lives’

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union has described a roster change at Inpex’s Darwin gas hub as ‘a cruel slap in the face right before the festive season’.

ETU NT organiser Dave Hayes says workers will be tens of thousands of dollars worse off per year while having to work for up to 300 hours more.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union has joined calls for Inpex to rethink roster changes at its Darwin gas hub, saying it could put members’ child custody arrangements “in jeopardy”.

AMWU Queensland and NT branch secretary Rohan Webb said while the workers would be tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket under the changes, “this isn’t just about pay”.

“It’s about the disrespect shown by (new contractor) Monadelphous and Inpex by upheaving the routines and personal lives of workers just before Christmas,” he said.

“People deserve respect, not a cruel slap in the face right before the festive season, this approach lacks decency and compassion, it doesn’t pass the pub test.”

Mr Webb said workers had planned their lives around the old rosters that unions negotiated in good faith with the previous contractor and their plans had now been uprooted.

“These roster changes would have huge impacts on our members, for some, this would make juggling school drop-offs and pick-ups that much harder, for others, this would put their custody arrangements in jeopardy,” he said.

Mr Webb said the changes were “disrupting crucial aspects of members’ lives”, with one worker “concerned about his ability to attend vital medical appointments for his child with heart and lung disease”.

“The combined unions presented a compromise position on rostering, yet Monadelphous and Inpex kicked the can down the road, instead offering a review in three months,” he said.

“The AMWU calls on Monadelphous and Inpex to either implement the roster pattern proposed by the combined unions or make a revised offer, to ensure that workers don’t endure a drastic increase in hours worked coupled with a substantial pay cut.”

An Inpex spokeswoman has previously said safety was the company’s “number one value” and its “unwavering focus on always working safely protects our people and our operations”.

“Inpex recently reviewed the maintenance delivery model, including roster structures at the Ichthys LNG onshore facilities,” she said.

“The review focused on supporting continued safe operations, a positive workplace culture and work-life balance for a Darwin-based workforce.

“The updated roster structure provides appropriate levels of maintenance delivery to support Ichthys LNG’s long-term safe and stable operations.”

The spokeswoman said the modified maintenance services roster structure would be reviewed in 2024.

Union warns of ‘mass exodus’ at Inpex as workers shunted onto new contracts

The Electrical Trades Union is warning Darwin’s Inpex facility will face a “mass exodus” of workers following roster changes it says will result in them working hundreds more hours for significantly less pay.

About 250 blue collar and 100 white collar workers were made redundant at the site when the facility’s maintenance contract with Trace JV concluded on November 22.

The workers were offered the opportunity to reapply for their jobs under new contractor Monadelphous, but the ETU’s NT organiser Dave Hayes said his analysis showed they would be far worse off.

“The new roster configuration Inpex and Monos are seeking to impose without adequate consultation will see members losing between $20,000 and $50,000 a year while having to work for up to 300 hours more,” he said.

“These local workers are not prepared to cop working more for less.

“The ETU has enjoyed a relatively good working relationship with the companies in the past and in this spirit, we are urging them to seriously reconsider the impact this decision will have on their reputation as an employer of choice in the Northern Territory.”

Mr Hayes said the affected workers were highly skilled, site experienced employees who lived in Darwin as part of the community while contributing to the local economy.

Inpex workers take an early minute after being forced to reapply for their jobs under new contractor Monadelphous in November. Picture: Reddit

“The decision Inpex and Monadelphous are seeking to impose will cause a massive rethink, with many already considering their options — this will not only affect operations on site but the NT community as a whole,” he said.

“These workers have structured their lives around the rosters we negotiated in good faith with Trace to meet the maintenance schedule requirements.

“Members have raised serious concerns about the impact the proposed Monday to Friday (rosters) will have on things like child care responsibilities, partners’ working patterns, appointments etc, which have all been planned around the rosters they had.

“Inpex and Monadelphous believe its people are its most valuable asset, it’s time for them to walk the walk and put their people first and renegotiate a fairer roster regime.”

An Inpex spokeswoman said safety was the company’s “number one value” and its “unwavering focus on always working safely protects our people and our operations”.

“Inpex recently reviewed the maintenance delivery model, including roster structures at the Ichthys LNG onshore facilities,” she said.

“The review focused on supporting continued safe operations, a positive workplace culture and work-life balance for a Darwin-based workforce.

“The updated roster structure provides appropriate levels of maintenance delivery to support Ichthys LNG’s long-term safe and stable operations.”

The spokeswoman said the modified maintenance services roster structure would be reviewed in 2024.