BBC: Start of strike in Australian gas sector delayed by a day

A planned strike in Australia’s gas sector, which has contributed to rising gas prices on global markets, has been delayed by one day. Union members are continuing to negotiate wages with representatives of US company Chevron, whose liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities are set to be affected by the protests. The BBC reported this today. The strike is now expected to begin on Friday.

A series of strikes over pay and working conditions was due to begin today. However, employees have postponed the start of the protests until 06:00 local time on Friday (00:00 CEST), referring to the time in the Australian city of Perth. „We will continue negotiating because we want to reach an outcome that is in the interests of both employees and the company,“ a spokesperson for Chevron Australia said.

Chevron’s Gorgon and Wheatstone facilities in Western Australia account for more than five percent of global LNG capacity. Australia’s Fair Work Commission, which acts as an arbitrator in the sector, has held mediation talks between Chevron and the Offshore Alliance, a partnership between two trade unions representing workers in the energy sector.