For comment, please contact: Tom Palmer on 08 9223 0800 or 0408877136.

Media Release

Wednesday 07 August 2013

Bechtel effectively incarcerating Wheatstone workers Bechtel’s latest plan to restrict site leave to Onslow to just 50 employees on rostered rest days from the Wheatstone project is a poorly thought out idea that effectively amounts to worker incarceration, Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union State Secretary Steve McCartney said today. “Restricting Wheatstone site leave to just 50 people per rest day to Onslow is a ludicrous decision that was made with absolutely no consultation with workers or their union,” Mr McCartney said. “Workers are already away from their homes and families for 28 days at a time. Restricting site leave on rest days in the North-West effectively amounts to worker incarceration and we oppose it one hundred per cent.” “This disgraceful decision means many workers will spend their entire swing behind a wire mesh fence. It’s an absolute joke.” Mr McCartney said the decision would be compounded because rest days were generally taken on the same day of the week. “It’s often the case that many workers will be on a rest day on a Sunday. Keeping everyone cooped up together is a recipe for disaster,” he said. “We have serious concerns that unnecessarily restricting site leave will adversely affect mental health in an industry which already has a poor reputation for looking after workers.” “Workers deserve to be treated with respect, not like a bunch of prisoners on a chain-gang.” Mr McCartney said this was just the latest in a long line of avoidable disputes created by Bechtel and Chevron’s no-negotiation policy. “We are seeking an urgent meeting with Bechtel management to sort the problem out. Their no-consultation policy is unnecessary, bad for morale and may be putting lives at risk.” Mr McCartney said that both the Gorgon and Wheatstone projects had recently seen flare-ups over accommodation arrangements due to poor logistical planning. “Chevron is also trying to bring in compulsory double bunking on the Gorgon project, which could have been completely avoided if they had planned the project properly. It’s bad for morale, bad for fatigue and undermines workers’ dignity.” “Workers will not be lectured on productivity when project proponents continually demonstrate poor workplace planning and substandard logistical management.”