Workers at Woodside Energy-Operated Offshore LNG Platforms Consider Strike Threat

SYDNEY - Workers at three offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) platforms operated by Woodside Energy are deliberating whether to proceed with a strike that could potentially disrupt global gas supplies.

In an in-principle agreement reached on Wednesday, Woodside and union representatives resolved several key issues. The outcome of this agreement will now be put to a vote by members of the Offshore Alliance workers' group, who will also decide whether to withdraw their notice of industrial action.

The threat of a strike arose due to concerns over pay and other issues voiced by workers, who had expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the meeting between company and union officials held on Wednesday. The potential disruptions at one of the world's leading LNG exporters had already caused fluctuations in natural gas prices.

According to the Offshore Alliance, a partnership between two local unions, if the members endorse the proposed agreement, Chevron will be the only operator in the Western Australia gasfields without an enterprise agreement with its workforce.

Meanwhile, staff at Chevron's Gorgon LNG facility and downstream facilities are currently voting on potential strike action, with ballots set to be returned on Thursday. A similar vote at Chevron's Wheatstone platform is scheduled for Monday.