Grab your calculators, folks — it’s time for another round of “Offshore Alliance vs Reality”. The stakes are high, the maths is wild, and the hypocrisy is thicker than a Bechtel concrete pour.
Earlier last week, the Offshore Alliance took to Facebook (again) to wage war on the AMWU, CFMEU and ETU for — wait for it — trying to win real, tangible improvements to workers’ pay packets.
But instead of supporting this bold effort to lift industry standards, the Alliance jumped into full spin mode. With the outrage of a toddler denied a second ice cream, they accused the unions actually on site fighting for improvements of being the ones who sold workers out.
The truth? No one sold workers out. The Pluto 2 agreement — like hundreds, if not thousands of agreements made during COVID-19 — fell short of expectations. That’s been acknowledged and written about before.
So why the meltdown?
Because the three unions had the audacity to point out something the Offshore Alliance desperately hopes workers forget: they signed off on the very Pluto Train 2 agreement they’re now trashing. Yep — they helped lock in the deal, then turned around and pretended someone else had handed out the lemons.
It’s a bit like setting fire to your own house, then blaming your neighbours for the smoke.
And here’s where it gets entertaining. Clearly rattled by the unions’ and members telling them to piss off when they came to site.
“Let’s take Pluto 2 and slap a 30% increase on it!” they said. “Then let’s add 12-hour shifts and a 14:7 roster!”
Did the Alliance even bother to calculate what a 30% uplift would look like? Doubtful. A 30% increase on Wheatstone 2017 rates would deliver a 95% increase on current Pluto 2 weekly earnings under a 12-hour day, 14:7 roster.
Let’s break it down. Take the current Pluto 2 base rates. Add 30%. Keep all allowances unchanged. Apply a 12-hour shift, 14:7 roster.
| Classification | All-purpose Rate | Weekly | Annual | Weekly % Increase |
| CW1 | $58.24 | $7,558.88 | $262,761.07 | 71.82% |
| CW2 | $60.50 | $7,834.84 | $272,354.10 | 71.98% |
| CW3 | $63.02 | $8,142.53 | $283,049.78 | 72.13% |
| CW4 | $64.92 | $8,374.08 | $291,099.11 | 72.24% |
| CW5 | $66.81 | $8,604.05 | $299,093.31 | 72.35% |
| CW6 | $68.69 | $8,834.02 | $307,087.50 | 72.45% |
| ELV/CT | $62.43 | $8,070.30 | $280,539.14 | 70.64% |
| Fitter, Welder, Carpenter etc | $64.95 | $8,377.99 | $291,234.82 | 70.84% |
| Electrician | $70.60 | $9,067.17 | $315,191.96 | 69.58% |
| Inlec | $73.75 | $9,450.98 | $328,534.00 | 69.84% |
| NDT Technical Officer | $69.33 | $8,911.74 | $309,788.99 | 72.48% |
| Electronics Tradesperson | $74.41 | $9,531.01 | $331,316.06 | 71.47% |
| MC (Hiab) | $58.24 | $7,558.88 | $262,761.07 | 71.82% |
| MC (0-15t) | $64.92 | $8,374.08 | $291,099.11 | 72.24% |
| MC (15-100t) | $66.81 | $8,604.05 | $299,093.31 | 72.35% |
| MC (100-180t) | $68.69 | $8,834.02 | $307,087.50 | 72.45% |
| MC (180-260t) | $70.59 | $9,065.58 | $315,136.83 | 72.54% |
| Tower Crane | $70.59 | $9,065.58 | $315,136.83 | 72.54% |
| MC (260t plus) | $71.70 | $9,200.39 | $319,823.08 | 70.86% |
The math proves one thing: the Alliance’s claims are unrealistic — and their calculator needs calibrating.
The figures show that a 30% uplift on base rates alone would see workers earning over 70% more per week than they do now. That’s more than the average surgeon earns.
Meanwhile, the AMWU, CFMEU and ETU are doing the hard yards: getting on site, talking to workers, and building support for serious, deliverable claims — a 15% base rate increase, a 14:7 roster, and 12-hour gate-to-gate pay. That’s right. Real, tangible improvements to pay packets and removing the divorce roster.
This was outlined in the flyer delivered to workers on site this week.
The Offshore Alliance, meanwhile, is doing what it does best: flinging blame, posting dramatic Facebook rants, and hoping no one remembers who signed what.
Here’s the bottom line: If the Alliance is seriously pushing for a 30% uplift of the base rates, they owe it to workers to explain how they’ll achieve it — and what risks come with that path.
The Alliance can’t pretend to be the industry’s watchdog when they’re three and a half years late, and when they do show up, it’s to poach other unions’ members using an ANITA calculator that’s miles out of calibration.
So next time you see the Offshore Alliance waving its hands on site or social media, ask yourself:
Are they building worker power — or just rewriting history in a bid to poach members and fund the AWU’s political ambitions?
Spoiler alert: it’s the latter.
Clearly, some are showering in the Alliance Kool-Aid! Pete Kenny is a fake account with one friend — Ross Kumeroa, an AWU organiser.
