FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should I Join Offshore Alliance?
There are many benefits to being an Offshore Alliance Member. As a member of OA you have access to a range of valuable services to ensure that you have the best working life, such as:

Representation for industrial, disciplinary matters and confidential advice;
Enterprise Agreement negotiation;
Discounted personal income protection;
Workers’ Compensation legal advice and assistance;
Representation and support in WHS matters;
Free will kit from partnered Law firms;
Bereavement Payments;
Discounted Home Loans and banking services;
Representation for unfair dismissal cases and recovery of underpayments
Discounted shopping through Campbells Wholesale and Shoprite; and
As a member you’re part of this movement, adding your voice and building your power at work.

Plus, Union fees are 100% tax-deductible.

What should I do if I have been unfairly dismissed?

Unfair dismissal is when you are sacked in a way that is considered to be harsh, unreasonable or unjust.

Access to unfair dismissal laws is critical to ensure both that workers can challenge unfair termination, and to act as a deterrent to employers who would dismiss workers unfairly and without regard for the difficulty that termination can cause. Unfair dismissal laws also play in important role in creating safe and fair workplaces.

If you have been the victim of unfair dismissal and contact your organiser or click here to contact the Offshore Alliance

What should I do If I have been terminated?

Permanent workers must be given notice of termination if their job is terminated. If they are not, they must be paid out their termination notice at their ordinary rate of pay.

Notice of termination does not apply to casual workers, probationary, seasonal or fixed-term employees, or to workers who earn over $123,300 per year.

The minimum required notice periods are:

Employee’s period of continuous service with the employer at the end of the day that notice is given	Period
Not more than 1 year	1 week
More than 1 year but not more than 3 years	2 weeks
More than 3 years but not more than 5 years	3 weeks
More than 5 years	4weeks

If you are over 45 years old and have completed at least 2 years of continuous service, then you should add one week to the notice periods listed here.

If you have been the victim of unfair dismissal and contact your organiser or click here to contact the Offshore Alliance

What should I do if I have a problem at work?

If you have a problem at work and aren’t sure how to deal with it contact your Offshore Alliance organiser or click here to contact the Offshore Alliance

Do union members get paid more?

The average union member earns $275 more a week than an non-unionised worker. That’s why it pays to join Offshore Alliance.

How Much Does It Cost Me to Belong to the Offshore Alliance?

It costs $25 per week to belong to the Offshore Alliance. All union dues are 100% tax deductible. Members can pay via direct debit on a weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, half yearly or yearly basis.

Which Unions Are Part of the Offshore Alliance?

The Offshore Alliance is a formal partnership between the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and the Australian Workers Union (AWU) to represent all offshore workers including production, drilling, maintenance, construction and catering workers.

Are Other Unions Involved in the Offshore Alliance?

While the Offshore Alliance is only between the MUA and the AWU, the Offshore Alliance is committed to working with all unions to improve the wages and conditions of employment of workers employed by offshore construction and maintenance contractors. Production, drilling and catering workers are exclusively represented by the Offshore Alliance.

Can I Belong to More Than One Union?

It is open for workers to belong to more than one union if they believe that it serves their industrial interests.

Does my employer need to know if I’m a member of the Offshore Alliance?

Not at all! Every Australian worker has the right to join their union. Union members are protected under the General Protections provisions of the Fair Work Act and under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act. Your membership is between you and your union.
You are under no obligation to disclose this to anyone, including your employer.
My employer has said I can’t be a member of a union – is this correct?

This is incorrect – your employer cannot prevent you from being a union member. Workers have freedom of association to become union members, as stipulated in the Fair Work Act. You also cannot be unfairly treated due to your union membership.

Are my fees tax-deductible?

Your union fees are 100% tax deductible, and we send you a statement at the end of financial year to make it easily to claim.

How do I change my details with Offshore Alliance?

You can update your details yourself via our member portal, or by emailing [email protected]