Key facts
- Workers at Australia's Ichthys LNG project have agreed to a new enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA).
- The agreement ends weeks of strikes that had delayed some LNG cargoes.
- Over 400 staff endorsed the EBA on June 17.
- The Offshore Alliance union described the new EBA as "the best in the oil and gas industry".
- Strikes are set to cease by 6pm Australian Western Standard Time (10am GMT) on June 17.
Workers at the 9.3 million tonnes per year Ichthys LNG project in Australia's Northern Territory have agreed to a new pay deal, ending weeks of strikes that had threatened global supply and delayed some cargoes. More than 400 staff endorsed the enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) on June 17, which the Offshore Alliance union described as "the best in the oil and gas industry" with improved job security, pay, and career progression.
Unions have notified operator Inpex that strikes will cease by 6pm Australian Western Standard Time (10am GMT) today. Workers had voted to endorse protected industrial action in May and began minor strikes on June 2, escalating to loading bans and eight-hour stoppages on June 11. Australia's Fair Work Commission had previously rejected an application by Inpex to halt the strikes, despite finding that industrial action threatened to cause a full production stoppage. The dispute, which began on June 3, cost Inpex one train shutdown and delayed the loading of LNG and condensate supplies, with an estimated loss of US$141 million (AUS$200 million).