Unions slam Woodside Energy for axing more than four hundred contractors without any pay amid virus outbreak
Unions slam gas giant Woodside for “heartless response to COVID-19”, as over 400 contractors stood down without pay.
Unions have accused gas giant Woodside of committing a “brutal act of industrial bastardry” by standing down more than 400 contractors without pay “of any kind”.
The Offshore Alliance of the Australian Workers Union and the Maritime Union of Australia said workers from Woodside’s Goodwyn and North Rankin platforms, along with Woodside floating production storage and offloading units, had been summarily stood down without pay.
The alliance said Woodside’s approach stood in contrast to Shell and INPEX, both of whom consulted with employees to minimise the impact of COVID-19 measures by providing additional flexibility and special payments.
AWU national secretary Daniel Walton said the alliance would fight “tooth and nail” to get Woodside to the table.
“Today’s decision by Woodside is maybe the most heartless corporate response we’ve seen to the COVID-19 crisis to date,” Mr Walton said.
“To just bring down the axe on 400 workers without a whisper of consultation, or the suggestion of special arrangements, is unconscionable.
“This is a company that announced a $1.3 billion dollar profit in 2018. There is zero need for them to treat their offshore workers this callously.
Comment has been sought from Woodside.