Shell workers strike
By Dave Mizon
GEELONG — Workers at Shell's refinery are striking in response to a push for multi-skilling at the refinery. In negotiations over an enterprise agreement, workers have been pushing for a 12% pay rise over two years.
The company's counter claim was for 8% this year with a further 2% if productivity targets are reached.
Management's plan that members of the Australian Workers Union carry out planned maintenance was the catalyst for the strike. Workers shut down the plant, walked out and immediately set up picket lines at the refinery, the jetty, the rail tanker loading bay, the LPG storage facilities near Geelong and the petrol storage terminal in Melbourne.
Members of the Transport Workers Union, Maritime Union of Australia and the Public Transport Union have all respected the picket line. Workers at Shell's Clyde refinery in Sydney have also implemented bans in support of the Geelong workers.