Since April 28, 12 crane drivers and telescopic forklift operators from contractor Mammoet have been on strike over better pay and working conditions.

Last week, Woodside made an application to Fair Work Australia to stop the strike, saying continued industrial action would threaten Pluto's schedule and cost.

In a statement late yesterday, Woodside said Fair Work Australia ordered a suspension of the strike for a period of three months during which Mammoet and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union are obliged to continue good-faith bargaining over the outstanding claims.

"With the immediate return to work, the Pluto LNG project remains within market guidance, with a target start-up by end February 2011 and first LNG by end March 2011, contingent on a productive industrial relations environment and weather conditions," the company said.