More workers join strike at BHP's Port Hedland iron ore operations
SYDNEY: More workers joined a strike at BHP’s Port Hedland operations in Western Australia on Sunday, a union spokesperson said, in the first major industrial action at the iron-ore export hub in a quarter-century. On the second of the planned two days of stoppage, some 100 workers downed tools at the world’s biggest export hub for iron ore at 5:30 a.m. (2130 GMT), taking the total involved to…
Workers at BHP’s Port Hedland iron ore operations in Western Australia joined a strike on Sunday, marking the first major industrial action at the iron-ore export hub in a quarter-century. The three unions of the Combined BHP Ports Unions represented around 150 of the company’s workforce of over 800 people at the port. The stoppage began at 5:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, with some 100 workers initially taking part and more joining throughout the day.
BHP, which ships approximately $80 million worth of iron ore daily through the port, reported that vessels continued to be loaded despite the strike. The first day of the two-day stoppage concluded on Sunday, with workers returning to their jobs at 5:30 a.m. on Monday. The Combined BHP Ports Unions (CBPU) spokesperson indicated that negotiations between the parties will resume on August 18 with the aim of securing a four-year bargaining agreement with BHP, the world’s third-largest iron ore miner.
The union proceeded with the strike, despite progress in talks between the parties on Tuesday. This action is not anticipated to impact rival miners Fortescue and Hancock Prospecting, both of which also utilize Port Hedland. In the year to June, the hub handled 75% of iron-ore exports from the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
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