Workers Launch Two-Day Strike at BHP’s Port Hedland, Marking First Major Industrial Action in Decades
Workers Launch Two-Day Strike at BHP’s Port Hedland, Marking First Major Industrial Action in Decades
Workers will continue a two-day strike at BHP’s operations in Port Hedland, Western Australia, a union official stated on Saturday. This marks the first major industrial action at the vital iron ore export hub in more than two decades.
Around 150 workers are expected to participate in the strike, which includes a 24-hour ban on loading vessels, followed by a complete 24-hour work stoppage on Sunday at the port, recognized as the world's largest iron ore export hub.
Union Coordination and Strike Details
Steve McCartney, State Secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) in Western Australia, confirmed that union members—specifically "the people who load the ships"—are executing the industrial action on Saturday.
"On the second day, Sunday, all three unions will walk off the job for 24 hours," McCartney added in an audio recording from the state capital, Perth.
BHP's Response and Ongoing Negotiations
A spokesperson for BHP, a company that ships approximately $80 million worth of iron ore daily through the Port Hedland facility, provided an operational update amid the strike:
"Vessels are being loaded, with scheduled departure times subject to usual port and tidal planning. Our focus remains on reaching a fair and reasonable agreement."
The three unions forming the BHP port union coalition represent a segment of the port's workforce, which totals over 800 employees. They are currently negotiating a four-year collective agreement with BHP, the world's third-largest iron ore miner. The unions opted to proceed with the planned strike despite reports of progress during talks between the two parties on Tuesday.