Article: BP workers strike puts Xmas petrol prices at risk

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BP workers strike puts Xmas petrol prices at risk

BP workers strike puts Xmas petrol prices at risk
December 10, 2009 - 7:26AM


The Electrical Trades Union will protest BP's decision to lock out its Brisbane refinery workers on Thursday morning in a standoff that could jeopardize holiday petrol supplies.

BP started to lock out its Eagle Farm refinery maintenance workforce as of 6am (Brisbane time) on Thursday after the two sides were unable to finalise a new union collective agreement.

In response, ETU workers will start a picket line at 8am outside the refinery.

ETU BP refinery organiser Garry Rogers said if the maintenance lockout continued into next week it would start to impact on Queensland petrol supplies and pose a significant risk to residents who live near the refinery.

"BP has launched a fairly serious attack on the working conditions of these maintenance workers and it is not something the workers are prepared to accept," he said.

"For example, BP wants these workers to work in temperatures of 35 degrees or more for 12 hours, with only two 20-minute rest breaks instead of the current three breaks.

"That is unacceptable from an occupational health and safety perspective."

Mr Rogers said Queensland families did not need to be inconvenienced over the holidays period.

"The ETU calls on BP to lift this silly lockout and settle what should be a straight forward wages and conditions agreement," he said.

AAP