OIL & GAS

Whistleblower accuses Shell of retaliation amid renewed legal and industrial pressure

Allegations, legal setbacks, and worker strikes highlight mounting challenges for energy giant

Shell in hot water.

Shell in hot water. | Credits: Shutterstock/sandsun

Former Shell safety engineer Irina Woodhead has accused the energy giant of retaliation after she raised serious safety concerns about the Prelude FLNG project. 

Woodhead has publicly criticised the inadequacy of investigations and the perceived bias within the tribunal system, recalling her personal experience where she alleges her case was dismissed without a proper hearing. 

She urged political parties to fulfil their promises on whistleblowing legislation, aiming for comprehensive reforms across political and judicial systems to restore faith and trust.

Her legal case alleges wrongful dismissal and reputational damage. Woodhead states that the company has effectively ruined her career prospects. 

"I can't secure a job whilst the judgement of 2023 is online containing false information about me," she said, describing the ongoing fallout from her decision to speak out.

Woodhead's whistleblower allegations have gained fresh attention as Shell faces renewed scrutiny over its environmental and labour practices. 

The Hague Court of Appeal recently overturned a landmark 2021 ruling mandating Shell to cut emissions by 45% by 2030, citing the company's voluntary climate goals and lack of scientific consensus on Scope 3 emissions reductions. 

Environmental groups have decried the decision, arguing it undermines corporate accountability for global emissions during a critical decade for climate action.

Meanwhile, Shell is embroiled in a growing industrial conflict involving logistics crews contracted through QUBE Offshore for its Prelude FLNG operations, a vessel Woodhead alleges raising safety concerns with her employer at the time, Shell, which now operates off the coast of Western Australia. 

According to a post on Offshore Alliances' Facebook page, workers have accused the company of pushing for the lowest pay and conditions for offshore logistics workers in Australia. 

Credits: Facebook.

The Offshore Alliance, representing these workers, has pledged to intensify industrial action until industry-standard salaries and employment terms are achieved.

Union members recently delivered a unanimous "yes" vote for Protected Industrial Action (PIA), signalling their intent to disrupt operations at the Prelude facility.

"We are gearing up to once again halt operations at Prelude in our fight for industry-standard pay and conditions," the Offshore Alliance declared.

Shell said they would not be making any public statements as the enterprise bargaining negotiations are with its contractors.

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