Updated July 16, 2026 — 7:01pm,first published July 16, 2026 — 5:00amStrike action by a combined ports union in the Pilbara will not cost the Australian and WA economies any royalties - rather, delaying them, according to Electrical Trade Union WA state secretary Adam Woodage.Workers from BHP’s Port Hedland operations on strike.Union workers from BHP’s Port Hedland operation downed tools for an eight-hour period on Thursday after pay negotiations with the iron ore giant stalled despite the two parties sitting down with the Fair Work Commission earlier this week.Responding to criticism that the strike action could cost WA taxpayers a share of valuable mining royalties, Woodage said there would be limited impact on the economy.“It’s not going to cost WA any lost royalties. It will delay the royalties,” he said.“It will delay by about eight hours in the coffers. It will delay BHP’s $40 to $50 million that they might lose out on tomorrow.“They’ll pick it up, or the next day after. BHP just turned over a record amount of tonnes recently in today’s report, and that is because of the skilled workers are standing behind me that are making a stance today against BHP.”Earlier on Thursday, the iron ore producer announced it had received the all-clear for a new iron ore mine in WA’s Pilbara region, with the $1.3 billion Ministers North project set to add 20 million tonnes per year to the company’s output once it has reached peak production.The announcement followed an update that BHP’s WA Iron Ore division delivered record production with material mined up by 6 per cent over the past financial year.A BHP spokesperson expressed disappointment that the industrial action went ahead, particularly as further hearings are planned in the Fair Work Commission, which has offered to provide support to both parties.“We remain committed to bargaining in good faith and believe that having an independent facilitator through the Commission is the most constructive, transparent and fair way to achieve the best outcome,” the spokesperson said.BHP strike in Port Hedland.“We are eager to keep negotiating constructively for a fair deal.“As with all potential disruptions to our business, we have plans in place to ensure operations can safely continue.”At a press conference earlier on Thursday, WA Premier Roger Cook said the strike action was “concerning”, but backed workers to get the best wages and conditions they could.“I want these workers to get the best wages and conditions that they, working with their union, that they can get, and I want the companies to be able to get a good outcome, so they can continue to be strong, profitable companies driving our economy as we do through the Pilbara,” he said.Cook shrugged off suggestions the action – and fears of increased unionisation in the Pilbara – could have an economic effect on foreign investment in WA’s lucrative resources sector, noting that unionised workforces were a part of Australia’s industrial relations system.Asked if he felt the unions were supported by the Premier, Woodage said he felt neutral about Cook’s comments.“I’m neutral because the premier is not a member of the ETU. The premier does not employ me,” he said.“The premier does not instruct me on what to do.“My members do, and those members are standing behind me, cheery, happy, loud, and proud that they’ve walked off the job today.”WA Labor’s relationship with unions has formed a point of attack for the opposition, who have accused the government of not doing enough to avoid the eight-hour strike, which is tipped to cost BHP as much as $50 million.On a national level, changes to industrial laws by the Albanese Labor government have been blamed for opening the door to more union activity in the Pilbara for the first time in decades.Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA chief executive Aaron Morey called the strike action “the most expensive barbecue in WA’s history”.“They’re sending a signal to the world that the Pilbara is no longer a safe place to invest,” he said.“At risk here is around $4 to $5 million of state royalties if they are successful, and on a day when nurses are pulling double shifts, teachers are managing overloaded classrooms, it’s really disappointing that unions in the north of the state are holding up Australia’s premier economic asset for face painting and bouncy castles.”ETU workers show solidarity in Melbourne.However, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union state secretary Steve McCartney said the strike action had the backing of the local Port Hedland community.“All the local people I’ve talked to and the amount of horns that have been hit as they go past tell me they’re saying it’s about time,” he said.“It’s about time someone put the lead on BHP.“They don’t own this town - they just work in this town.”From our partners