By NOEL MURPHY
SHELL stands to lose up to $20 million to a one-day operators’ stop-work action planned to coincide with the federal election campaign.
The operators’ union has aimed the protest stoppage at highlighting a possible rise in fuel prices when Shell sells its Geelong refinery or it becomes an import terminal if the company is unable to find a buyer.
The action is scheduled for 30 August, two weeks before the 14 September federal poll. The strike would involve 127 operators at the Corio refinery.
Australian Workers Union national vice-president Sam Wood told the Independent wind-down and start-up days either side of the stoppage would cut production by about $2 million a day, costing Shell $20 million in total.
“It’s a political action that the operators are planning to bring to the public’s attention the very real possibility of all refining in Australia shutting down,” Mr Wood said.
Shell said the refinery sale process would continue.
“Shell has said the best chance of achieving a successful sale is through the support of employees, unions and the community,” spokesman Paul Zennaro said.
