United Voice News
Shell refinery strike in Geelong could bring Victoria to a halt
Specialist decontamination cleaners at Geelong’s Shell Oil Refinery are warning petrol bowsers across Victoria and Tasmania could run dry by the weekend if they are forced to take industrial action this week.
A strike would cause chaos for Victorian motorists, affect heavy transport and even air traffic.
Geelong’s Shell Oil Refinery may be left without specialist decontamination cleaners, after incoming contractor ISS Cleaning told them they will not have jobs from the end of this week.
The twenty specialist cleaners may have no option but to strike unless Shell urgently intervenes to defuse the crisis by helping to secure their jobs.
Geelong’s Shell Oil Refinery processes up to 120,000 barrels of oil a day and supplies fuel to half of Victoria and most of Tasmania, producing petrol, diesel and
jet fuel.
“These specialist cleaners decontaminate critical safety clothing at Shell’s Geelong Refinery, including protective acid suits and masks used by maintenance staff to fix leaks and spills,” said Jess Walsh, Victorian Secretary of LHMU, the Cleaners Union.
“They are absolutely vital to ensuring the site is a safe place to work for refinery workers and there are no environmental disasters.”
“But they have been told they won’t have a job from the end of this week. Some have worked here for more than 20 years.”
“A strike at this refinery would bring Victoria to a halt. We call on Shell to urgently intervene and help defuse this crisis by ensuring these workers’ jobs are secure.”
“These workers don’t want to inconvenience the public but they have families to support and mortgages to pay. They cannot afford to join the dole queue.”
“If Shell cares about Geelong, they will step in right now to ensure the jobs of these dedicated workers are safe.”
The 20 workers, including specialist decontamination cleaners, employed at Shell’s Geelong Refinery are employed on a union collective agreement, with full time workers earning $870 a week.
The incoming contractor ISS Cleaning has told them their employment is being terminated at the end of the week, new workers will be employed on the minimum wage — $670 a week for full time workers, a 36 percent wage cut.
Shell employees 470 people at its Geelong Oil Refinery, along with hundreds of other contractors.
