Key facts
- BHP iron ore workers at Port Hedland will strike for eight hours on July 16.
- The strike follows six months of failed negotiations for a four-year labor deal.
- The action is expected to disrupt approximately A$120 million ($83.16 million) in daily iron ore revenue.
- Workers across port operations and maintenance will participate.
- A recent labor agreement at other BHP operations included a 16% pay hike over four years.
Hundreds of workers at BHP's Port Hedland iron ore operations in Western Australia are set to walk off the job on July 16, potentially disrupting A$120 million of daily revenue. This action follows six months of failed negotiations for a four-year labor deal, with the Combined Ports Unions hoping it will encourage BHP to negotiate a fair agreement. Workers across port operations and maintenance will participate in the eight-hour stoppage. Adam Woodage, Secretary of the Electrical Trades Union WA, expressed hope that the strike would prompt fair negotiations. This planned strike follows a recent vote by workers at other BHP operations to approve a new labor agreement that included a 16% pay increase over four years. Port Hedland is a critical export hub, also utilized by Fortescue and Hancock, with daily iron ore shipments valued at around $150 million.