Vic: Oil workers to fight Bass Strait lockout

AAP General News (Australia)
04-04-2004
Vic: Oil workers to fight Bass Strait lockout

Bass Strait oil rig workers will seek a Federal Court injunction tomorrow to lift a
lockout by subcontractors on Esso's offshore platforms.

The legal bid against the three-week lockout due to begin on Tuesday is the latest
chapter in an twelve-month dispute over roster changes.

Esso and its subcontractors want to replace the current seven-days-on, seven-days-off
roster with a two-weeks-on, two-weeks-off system.

Australian Workers Union national secretary BILL SHORTEN says the lockout could jeopardise
Melbourne's gas supplies over the winter months.

Esso spokesman CHRIS WELBERRY says there is no way in the forseeable future the lockout
will affect gas supplies.

AAP RTV nl/lm

KEYWORD: ESSO (MELBOURNE)

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