Unions say Chevron and Woodside Energy are seeking “scab” labour sources.

It is alleged that the energy giants have been seeking alternative labour arrangements to mitigate potential gas production disruptions due to an ongoing strike threat in Western Australia. 

The Offshore Alliance, which includes the Australian Workers’ Union and the Maritime Union of Australia, claims that Chevron may have approached engineers with limited operational experience, proposing their deployment to remote offshore platforms rather than their usual office roles. 

Additionally, the company is said to have brought in supplementary visa workers from the US to work in their Perth office.

Chevron has expressed its intention to maintain operational stability at its Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG projects in the face of potential disruptions, without providing detailed insights into its strategies.

Woodside admits it has contingency plans designed to address various challenges, such as cyclones and pandemics, but has not commented on specific labour issues. 

Potential strike actions could soon impact Western Australia's industrial production and global gas markets, and the Offshore Alliance says workers have been approached by Chevron and Woodside for labor provision, but these advances have been declined by the workers.

A spokesperson from Woodside has explicitly denied seeking non-unionized labor.

Shutdowns at the Gorgon, Wheatstone, and North West Shelf LNG projects would see roughly 11 per cent of the global sea-shipped gas market eliminated. 

In that case, Western Australia's domestic gas supply could be halved, leading to output reductions or the need for emergency alternatives across industries such as mining and alumina refineries.

A previous strike at Shell's Prelude LNG venture, though smaller in scale, lasted over nine weeks and led to an estimated $1.5 billion in lost production. 

Energy analysts suggest that while full-scale shutdowns across all three plants are unlikely, the unique situation in Western Australia could offer various legal avenues for resolution.