Let put it this way, their strike was all about the new motelling system, which is to say the least trival. Its not like they are not getting good accomodations. Now in case people who have never been to Karratha don't know. Let me just spell out what these people are getting.
Accomodation - They get self-contained units, with cable TV, rooms made up regularly. Full Buffet canteen- when i say Buffet i really mean buffet, their spread is even more then Burswood restaurant.
Money - And in case anyone is in doubt, the money they get are close to obscene, lets just say 100K would be your minimum. With all the allowances, you would not believe the amount they get. They work in harsh conditions but the money you make up there is unbeliveable
So I keep thinking, are these workers there for a holiday or there to work ?? If you are there to work, what is the problem with motelling ? They can put their stuff in storage provided by the company. What is the problem with carrying a little weight ? They should just be thankful they have such a good job.
My suggestion - everyone who joins the strike should be BLACKLISTED and not be employed back, get other workers who are more grateful just to have a decent job. This is what happens when UNION gets too big for their boot. If workers are not happy they can not work, just get someone else to fill their shoe, trust me there are many others who will gladly fill their shoes.
I think to get a better balance any political party should not be linked with the UNION, because this will only set australia back another decade.
NEWS
The West Australian ©
An illegal two-day strike on Woodside's Pluto project has sparked an investigation by the Australian building and construction regulatory body, which could result in almost 2000 gas workers who downed tools yesterday being hit with fines of up to $22,000 each.
The investigation by the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner came after Woodside said it was unwilling to budge on the cause of the dispute, a new housing system known as "motelling" that would see fly-in, fly-out workers at the company's Gap Ridge Village forced to check into a different donga for each rostered work cycle instead of permanent accommodation.
It is planned to bring the new system into operation this month.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA chief executive James Pearson said the strike was against the law and he urged workers to end industrial action. He said it sent a negative message to potential investors.
But the defiant Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union yesterday would not rule out the possibility of more industrial action if the dispute was not resolved by the time workers were due to return to work tomorrow.
CFMEU assistant secretary Joe McDonald, who also spoke on behalf of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union, said other unions were considering action and Woodside had better take worker demands seriously.
"People will be evicted on a monthly basis," Mr McDonald said. "This dispute is about people being able to maintain their living accommodation. If you work on Pluto for 12 months, you will spend 10 months in a donga.
"These people want to personalise these rooms and turn them into their homes. I think they already pay a big price for being away from home."
Mr McDonald said most of the workers, who voted unanimously to strike at a meeting in Karratha on Monday, were on a non-union agreement and had no choice but to strike illegally.
A Woodside spokesman said the company was disappointed by the illegal action but there were still about 1600 workers on site and production continued. He said the current accommodation arrangement saw about a quarter of the dongas left vacant at any given time and the new system would create more jobs because it would allow the company to house more workers.
"We're open to discussing the grievances of people who reside at the facility but the change in accommodation arrangements is required to increase the opportunity for more people to work on this project, and that won't be changing," he said.
It was too early to speculate whether Woodside would take legal action against the workers.
