An application by Saipem (Portugal) Comercio Maritimo under s.496 Workplace Relations Act 1996 for orders to stop or prevent industrial action in relation to an industrial dispute with the Australian Workers Union at the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline Project (DBNGP).
Workers attended a stop work meeting on 7 May to discuss an issue concerning work patterns. The collective agreement that applies on the project (the Saipem (Portugal) Comercio Maritimo DBNGP Expansion Agreement 2007) provides for a cycle of 4 weeks on and 7 days off. The union seeks a pattern of 4 weeks on and 9 days off.
At a hearing in the AIRC on 10 May the company withdrew its application after it received a commitment from the union that it would observe the dispute resolution procedures in the Agreement. The union and the company are now to engage in further discussions with the assistance of the AIRC to deal with the issue which gave rise to the stoppage.
Following further stop work action by employees on 22 May, the company made a further application to the AIRC for orders to stop or prevent industrial action. At a hearing before DP McCarthy on 23 May, the union gave a written undertaking to Saipem that the men would return to work the following day and that no industrial action would occur for one month. DP McCarthy will convene conciliation proceedings on the substantive issues in dispute.