The Federal Government has raised concerns a proposed strike by more than 600 Esso workers could impact gas supply across four states.

The Australian Workers’ Union (AWU), the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) and the Electrical Trades Union have notified Esso their workers will strike indefinitely from next Friday after enterprise bargaining talks collapsed.

Workers at Esso’s Longford, Long Island Point and offshore operations are involved in the industrial action.

Unions have opposed a push by the company for a two-weeks-on, two-weeks-off roster for offshore workers.

Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg said he was concerned about the potential impact of the industrial action.

“It will impact not just on Victoria, but also New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania,” Mr Frydenberg said.

“The Fair Work Commission reserves the right to intervene in those matters, and let’s see if the negotiations play out constructively or not.”

Esso is one of the main gas suppliers in Victoria, and its reserves also supply South Australia, NSW and Tasmania.

Workers ‘frustrated at lack of progress’

AWU Victorian secretary Ben Davis said the Esso work force was frustrated at the bargaining process and would welcome intervention by the Fair Work Commission.

He said if no agreement was made, the protected industrial action could last weeks or months.

“We’ve notified an indefinite stoppage that’s due to start Friday next week,” he said.

“In response to that, the Victorian State Government yesterday applied to Fair Work to terminate the bargaining, which basically means the outstanding agreements would be arbitrated, rather than any industrial action or further negotiations occurring.

“It’s fair to say the workforce has had enough. They’re frustrated with the lack of progress and bargaining.”

Roster issue a sticking point

AMWU organiser Steve Dodd said workers were not willing to accept increasing their rosters from seven days to 14.

“The way it’s structured at this point in time, there’s a whole range of conditions that we would like to see met before we would even consider doing that,” he said.

Negotiations between Esso and its workers have been ongoing for more than two years. Photo: AAP.

Esso said in a statement it was not appropriate to comment on a matter before the commission, but maintained it was committed to reaching a resolution.

Negotiations have been ongoing for more than two years, with Esso last year locking maintenance workers out of its Longford Gas Plant near Sale in south-east Victoria.

An Esso spokesman said at the time the lockouts were to “counteract the disruptive effect of the union bans”.

Esso has said the roster changes were needed because of “increased stress on the business”.

Workers currently work on a one-week-on, one-week-off basis.

Esso chairman Richard Owen earlier this year said efficiencies were needed, and the company would not budge on its bid to introduce two-week rosters offshore.

“We reduce the number of helicopter take-offs and landings that we require,” he said.

“It improves the efficiency on the platform so we don’t lose so much time as people come on, changeover between shifts, and so it provides more productivity efficiencies as well as safety.”

– ABC