Workers at BHP Group’s Port Hedland operations in Western Australia are set to walk off the job on July 16, marking the first strike at the mining giant’s Pilbara iron ore hub in over two decades. The work stoppage, organized by the Combined BHP Ports Union, comes after roughly six to seven months of failed negotiations over a new four-year enterprise agreement covering pay and working conditions.
Port Hedland is one of the largest iron ore export terminals on the planet, handling shipments valued at approximately A$80 to A$120 million per day.
What the stoppage looks like
The planned action involves an eight-hour work stoppage affecting between 200 and 250 workers out of approximately 450 employed at the site.
This isn’t just the first strike since 2000. It’s reportedly the largest industrial action at BHP operations in over 30 years.
