Workers at BHP’s Port Hedland operations in Western Australia have given notice of an eight-hour work stoppage on July 16, which is expected to disrupt daily revenue of A$120 million worth of iron ore.
The strike comes after six months of negotiations that have failed to reach an agreement on terms for a four-year labour deal. Unions are making the biggest push in 30 years to penetrate Australia’s mining heartland since the Labor government enacted a law in 2022 giving them the power to negotiate wage deals that cover several employers.
Impact on the Industry
Port Hedland, which is also used by Fortescue and Hancock, ships around $150 million of iron ore a day, underscoring the scale of potential disruption. The South Flank agreement last week included a guaranteed 16% pay hike over its four-year term, increases to site-based allowances and a new payment scheme for delayed flights.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
