Union condemns Esso for worker lockout

The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has condemned energy giant Esso for locking out its workers, rather than engaging with them on negotiations over pay and working conditions.

Last week, Esso began locking out maintenance workers from its Longford and Long Island Point oil and gas plants and offshore platforms in Victoria.

Angered workers have been conducting a protest outside Esso’s Longford site on Garretts Road. According to the ETU, the lockout is management’s response to a secret ballot in which an overwhelming majority of the workers voted to reject Esso’s proposed changes to pay and conditions.

The ETU said the ballot followed a protracted period of “fruitless negotiations”.

“We are disappointed that Esso has chosen an escalation of hostilities over sitting down and resolving the issues in dispute through sensible discussions with unions,” said ETU organiser Peter Mooney.

“We’ve had no meetings where there’s been any opportunity to progress negotiations between the unions and the company.

“The company is taking the position that it will continue to press on with its claims — claims that will never be acceptable to our members.”

Mooney said the union calls on Esso to “accept the ballot result and to recommence negotiations with its employees in good faith”.

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