Breaking: Gas workers strike as negotiations on pay deal stall

Workers at the Japanese-owned Inpex gas operation have walked off the job after weeks of negotiations on pay and conditions stalled. Industrial action took place this morning at the Ichthys site, with a further two-hour work stoppage planned on for this evening. The Offshore Alliance, a combination of the Australian Workers' Union and the Maritime Union of Australia, has been pushing for better conditions and annual pay rises of 3 per cent. Industry lobby group Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association (AREEA) have said this would increase labour costs by 50–60 per cent and push the average Inpex salary to more than $500,000 a year. The Ichthys operation takes gas from offshore fields in West Australian waters, before it is sent to Darwin for processing. In a social media post, the Offshore Alliance said significant progress had been made in negotiations last week, but Inpex had "fallen short on a number of fundamental claims". "A long way short, and our Inpex members have had enough," the post said. "Protected Industrial Action ramps up today on all 3 Inpex facilities with stoppages of work and work bans. "Inpex are making billions off the blood, sweat and tears of their Australian operations workforce, and we will keep escalating PIA [protected industrial action] until Inpex agree to fair industrial outcomes. "If you don't fight, you lose." Union representatives and Inpex have been contacted for comment. Loading