Electrical workers at global mining firm BHP's iron ore port operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia (WA) plan to strike as early as June if a ballot of union members authorises protected industrial action.
Electrical Trades Union (ETU) members working at Port Hedland are planning to hold strike action after six months of failed negotiations with BHP, the union said on 29 May.
BHP has made contingency plans to ensure operations can continue safely and reliably if a strike goes ahead at the port, a spokesperson told Argus.
The ETU has lodged an application for a protected action ballot order with Australia's national workplace relations tribunal, the Fair Work Commission (FWC), which would authorise the union's 200 port staff members to legally strike.
BHP is negotiating a new enterprise agreement for its port operations team, which will cover a total of about 450 port employees, excluding contractors, Argus understands.
Port Hedland is the world's largest bulk iron ore export port and is a key export hub in BHP's WA iron ore supply chain. The firm produced 257mn t of iron ore in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2025.
