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The workers have been stranded since the end of their seven-day shift due to a strike by staff from two construction contractors employed by Esso.
Esso spokeswoman Anna Schulze said that Esso workers onshore had joined the strike by staging a secondary boycott in support of the construction workers, refusing to cross the picketline at the company's Longford helipad.
The trouble has stemmed from a planned roster change from a seven day shifts to a 14 day on, 14 day off roster as proposed by the construction companies of Worley ABB and Kellogg Brown & Root in current enterprise bargaining discussions.
The Australian Workers Union said the change in roster was unfair to the families of the workers and posed a health risk in return for some air transport savings to the company.
The Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) last night ordered Esso workers to cross the picketline and return to work at 10am (AEST) today, an order that was rejected by the workers. A further AIRC hearing is currently underway.
