Shell refinery cleaners' strike threatens petrol supplies

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PETROL bowsers across Victoria and Tasmania could run dry if specialist cleaners at a Geelong refinery strike over pay.

The specialist decontamination cleaners - who make sure safety equipment and clothing used for maintenance work is properly cleaned - have been told the new company to which they are contracted will make them redundant at the end of the week, and re-employed on the minimum wage.

Victorian secretary of the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union Jess Walsh said the Shell refinery could be left without the cleaners after incoming contractor ISS Cleaning told them they would not have jobs from the end of this week, The Geelong Advertiser reported.

"The 20 specialist cleaners may have no option but to strike unless Shell urgently intervenes to defuse the crisis by helping to secure their jobs," she said.

Ms Walsh said the 20 workers were employed on a union collective agreement, with full-time workers earning $870 a week.

She said the new contractor had told them their employment was being terminated at the end of the week and new workers would be employed on the minimum wage, which is $670 a week for full-time workers.

Geelong's refinery supplies fuel to half of Victoria and most of Tasmania.