BHP iron ore workers vote to strike on July 16 at Port Hedland

MELBOURNE: Workers at BHP’s Port Hedland operations in Western Australia gave ​notice of an eight-hour work stoppage on Wednesday set for ‌July 16, which is expected to disrupt daily revenue of A$120 million ($83.16 million) worth of iron ore.

Unions have called for the action after six months of ​negotiations that have failed to reach an agreement on ​terms for a four-year labour deal.

Workers across the company’s port ⁠operations and maintenance workforce represented by the Combined Ports Unions ​will participate in the stoppage, according to a union statement.

“This is nobody’s ​preferred way forward, but when it is our only way forward, we will take it,“ said Electrical Trades Union WA Secretary Adam Woodage.

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“I hope this sharpens ​the minds of BHP managers – and shareholders – on the importance of ​negotiating for a fair, safe and productive iron ore industry.”

The action comes after ‌workers ⁠at BHP’s South Flank and Mining Area C iron ore operations last week narrowly voted to approve a new labour agreement.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, more scope ​to request flexible arrangements and allow industry-wide strikes.

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.

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.