Wilson’s Pipe Fabrication – commencement of bargaining

On 23 August 2021, the Offshore Alliance contacted Wilson’s Pipe Fabrications (WPF), requesting that the company commence bargaining for an enterprise agreement to cover its employees who perform work on oil and gas facilities, both offshore and onshore. These employees are not currently covered by an enterprise agreement.

The Offshore Alliance had collected individual signed petitions from a majority of these employees supporting bargaining and informed WPF that should the company not agree to bargain, the Offshore Alliance will make an application to the FWC for an MSD.

The company responded, and after the exchange of some more correspondence it was agreed that the company would engage an independent company to run an anonymous ballot of WPF employees who perform work on oil and gas facilities, asking those employees if they want to bargain for an enterprise agreement to cover their employment. It was agreed that if a majority of employees voted in favour of bargaining, WPF would commence the bargaining process.

On 5 October 2021, the results of that ballot were published by the company – 95% of employees voted ‘yes’.

On 13 October 2021, the company issued the Notice of Employee Representational Rights, signalling the commencement of bargaining. The EBA will cover approximately 50 workers.

WPF listened to the request of the Union and its employees rather than making the process incredibly difficult for those involved. WPF will now have happier workers with more secure futures for themselves and their families.