SYDNEY, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Workers at Chevron's Gorgon and Wheatstone liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities on Thursday voted to authorise unions to call a range of strike action, raising the possibility of production shutdowns even as both parties continue to negotiate over pay and conditions.
The Offshore Alliance, which combines the Maritime Union of Australia and Australian Workers' Union, now has the discretion, but not the obligation, to call a variety of strike action but must give Chevron seven working days' notice beforehand.
Results of another strike ballot for workers at a separate Wheatstone facility are due on Monday afternoon.
The escalation comes the same day as the unions reached an in-principle agreement with Woodside Energy in a similar workplace dispute at its Northwest Shelf LNG facility. Members will vote on whether to accept the deal, and therefore bring an end to the risk of strike action, at 7:30pm (1130 GMT).
(Reporting by Lewis Jackson Editing by Alasdair Pal)
