The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), the Communication Electrical and Plumbing Union, the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) and the Australian Workers Union (AWU) have all agreed, in principle, to stick to their areas of coverage and to delivering new projects on the North-West Shelf on time and on budget.
There is also a process in place to help resolve demarcation disputes without bringing project works to a standstill. Under the agreement, all union disputes will be settled by the ACTU.
The deal for the Burrup Fertiliser Plant involves the WA government and the ACTU as well as providing the basis for union involvement, including the CFMEU, in future projects on the North West Shelf worth billions of dollars.
The agreement has been driven by the ACTU, Unions WA and State Development Minister Clive Brown to try and allay fears held by many project proponents.
Burrup Fertilisers' management has been particularly concerned about the threat of industrial action on its project. If it is completed on time and on budget then the company will consider building an ammonium and urea plant worth a further $1.3 billion.
Intervention by the ACTU followed a dirty fight between the CFMEU and AMWU over coverage and entry rights at the Woodside Train Four project on the North-West Shelf.
The same four unions, along with the Transport Workers Union, are also working on a plan to pool their resources a bit further north of the Burrup, at BHP Billiton's iron ore projects.
