SYDNEY, Sept 4 Reuters Mediation talks to avert strikes at U.S. energy major Chevron39;s two major liquefied natural gas LNG facilities in Australia began on Monday after workers rejected the company39;s offer on wages and working conditions last week.

A senior member of the Fair Work Commission FWC, Australia39;s industrial umpire, will host the talks from 9 a.m.0100 GMT in the Western Australia state capital of Perth through this week, a schedule of hearings showed.

Reuters first reported on Friday that Chevron had filed a request for mediation with the FWC. The company bypassed unions and put its offer directly to workers, who overwhelmingly rejected.

A union alliance has said industrial action will begin on Thursday at Chevron39;s Gorgon and Wheatstone projects, which account for more than 5 of global LNG production capacity, if parties cannot find a resolution.

Employees plan work stoppages of up to 11 hours in two blocks and will stop performing certain tasks until at least Sept. 14, the Offshore Alliance union said. The union group has said the stoppages could cost Chevron billions of dollars.

Any industrial action would disrupt Australia39;s LNG exports and increase competition for the superchilled fuel, forcing Asian buyers to outbid European buyers to attract LNG cargo. China and Japan are the top two lifters of Australian LNG, followed by South Korea and Taiwan.

Gorgon, Australia39;s secondlargest LNG plant, has an export capacity of 15.6 million tonnes a…