Summary of Potential Industrial Action by Catering Staff on Woodside Offshore Facilities

Catering staff employed by ESS, a unit of Compass, on several Woodside Energy offshore gas production facilities in Western Australia are set to vote on protected industrial action (PIA). The Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) filed for PIA ballots on June 19 on behalf of 55 cooks and caterers. The action could affect facilities including the Goodwyn, North Rankin, and Angel offshore platforms, as well as the Scarborough floating production unit.

Negotiations between the two sides have been ongoing for over six months, with the previous agreement ending in late February. The Offshore Alliance (OA), a coalition of the AWU and the Maritime Union of Australia, criticized ESS and Woodside for offering below-CPI wage outcomes amid rising living costs. The proposed ballots include bans on theme-based meals (e.g., Christmas, Easter, smorgasbords, barbecues, Mexican, or Italian cuisines) and unlimited bans on cutlery and crockery, potentially limiting service to single-use items only.

The OA emphasized that its members feed the workforce, clean facilities, and maintain accommodations, making offshore life possible, and rejected what it described as substandard conditions akin to those in mines and onshore construction projects. The PIA under consideration would allow unlimited stoppages ranging from 30 minutes to four hours at a time.

ESS stated it is committed to competitive pay and conditions, with ongoing negotiations to find a resolution and avoid disruption. Woodside declined to comment but noted that any PIA would not involve operational staff. The OA expects the ballot to be voted on in the coming days, after which workers can notify about planned industrial action.