Woodside: Disappointed By Maritime Labor Union Action
November 12 2009 - 8:06PM
Dow Jones News
Woodside Petroleum Ltd. (WPL.AU) said Friday it's disappointed
with a planned 48 hour strike by the Maritime Union of Australia,
which has the potential to negatively impact its business.
The MUA is seeking increases in allowances and wages, and plans
to embark on a series of strikes at 12 shipping companies servicing
the offshore oil and gas sector.
The first is set to get underway Tuesday for 48 hours at Farstad
Shipping ASA (FAR.OS), which supplies offshore support vessels to
drill rigs as well as producing platforms.
"Industrial action taken against Farstad or any other maritime
service provider has the potential to negatively impact our
business activities and damage the broader reputation of the
Australian LNG industry," a spokeswoman for Woodside said.
Farstad is one of Woodside's key maritime service
contractors.
"We are surprised at the scale of the outstanding enterprise
bargaining claims that are being pursued by the MUA," she said.
Farstad operates 20 vessels in Australia and 17 will be impacted
from the strike.
The Norway-based company overnight issued a notice to the Oslo
Exchange, warning shareholders of the potential negative
impact.
"Strike action will cost Farstad A$750,000 a day. This is a
fraction of what our clients would lose," said Joseph Homsey,
Farstad's managing director in Australia.
In addition to a 30% pay increase over three years, union
members are seeking a construction allowance of around A$400 a day,
up from A$89 currently.
The union wants maritime workers engaged in offshore
construction to earn the same as riggers.
-By Elisabeth Behrmann, Dow Jones Newswires;
61-2-8272-4689 elisabeth.behrmann@dowjones.com