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Chevron's WA offshore gas fields face industrial action

Chevron Australia faces industrial action at sites including Gorgon if a dispute remains unresolved. (PR HANDOUT IMAGE PHOTO)

Chevron Australia's massive facilities in the northwest offshore gas fields face industrial action next week if a dispute remains unresolved.

With stoppages threatening supply from some of the world's biggest LNG platforms, Chevron told AAP on Tuesday it would continue to take steps to maintain safe and reliable operations in the event of disruption at the facilities.

Chevron confirmed it has received notices for protected industrial action at Gorgon and Wheatstone for activities starting on September 7.

"While we don't believe that industrial action is necessary for agreement to be reached, we recognise employees have the right to take protected industrial action," a spokesman said.

The union said members at Gorgon, Wheatstone Downstream and Wheatstone Platform have each voted almost unanimously in favour of work bans and complete stoppages of work.

"Offshore Alliance members at Chevron would prefer to have this matter resolved without the need for industrial action, but Chevron has given them little indication that it can be," spokesperson Brad Gandy said.

The union said members have been disappointed with the company’s approach to negotiations, and Chevron not accepting that an industry standard agreement should apply.

An in-principle agreement negotiated with Woodside Energy last week leaves Chevron as the only major operator without such an agreement covering its workforce, the union said.

Workers are seeking pay and conditions in line with peers at Shell and INPEX, which will soon also apply at Woodside. 

"Our members at Chevron aren't being unreasonable in their claims," Mr Gandy said.

"If Chevron could just accept that it must provide terms and conditions of employment that meet the industry standard, we could settle this matter in a matter of hours."

Chevron said it would continue to work through the bargaining process for outcomes that were in the interests of employees and the company.

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