BHP Port Hedland iron ore workers to strike August 8-9, union says

Workers at BHP Group’s (ASX: BHP) Port Hedland iron ore operations in Western Australia plan to take protected industrial action next week, including a 24-hour ban on loading ships and a work stoppage, the Combined BHP Ports Unions said on Friday.

Combined Ports Unions represents three unions, including the Western Mine Workers Alliance, as well as electrical and manufacturing workers.

The unions most recently met with BHP on July 28, but no agreement was reached.

The group said workers would impose a 24-hour ban on loading ships on August 8, followed by a 24-hour work stoppage at the Port Hedland Bulk Export Terminal beginning at 0530 AWST on August 9.

Port Hedland, in the country’s northwest, is a major artery for Australian iron ore, through which $80 million of BHP’s products transit each day.

High-voltage and power workers negotiating a separate enterprise agreement with BHP will also undertake a 12-hour stoppage on August 9, the alliance said.

“We have given ample opportunity for BHP to come to the table with a fair offer that addresses our members’ concerns,” Western Mine Workers Alliance spokesperson Craig Beveridge said in a statement.

The unions said workers were seeking enforceable wage and condition protections through a new enterprise agreement.

BHP did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment.

(Reporting by Rajasik Mukherjee; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)