Originally published by Brad Thompson of The Australian
12.07.2026
BHP has turned to Australia’s industrial relations umpire for help as it tries to avert strike action on Thursday by a coalition of unions aiming to halt iron ore shipments from Port Hedland in Western Australia.
The mining giant has asked the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to assist in bargaining with unions who are counting down to an eight-hour strike in the most significant industrial action in the Australian iron ore industry in decades.
The move comes as the Albanese government refuses to intervene and disputes BHP claims its first-term industrial relations changes are behind an aggressive union campaign to regain influence in the iron ore sector.
There are conflicting claims by BHP – which stands to lose $US90m ($129m) a day if strike action shuts down the port – and union leaders about the progress of talks that to date have not involved the FWC. In a message to workers, BHP general manager of port operations Dan Mossman accused unions of providing inaccurate information and said he wanted to “dispel any myths” about the progress of talks.
“We are aware that unions have stated that there has been no progress in bargaining,” he said. “That is an inaccurate assessment.
“We are now putting the bargaining in front of the FWC – the independent industrial umpire – to help dispel any myths about progress in bargaining.”
Based on recent ballots on industrial action, the strike by members of the Electrical Trades Union (ETU), the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) and the Australian Workers Union (AWU) is set to involve 236 of about 450 employees working in the handling, blending and loading of iron ore at Port Hedland.
AMWU state secretary Steven McCartney declined to comment on Sunday, but last week said the strike would show BHP that unions were serious about a “fair offer”.
Mr McCartney, a Labor Party powerbroker, suffered a blow at the weekend when his calls for a member of his Left faction to fill a WA cabinet vacancy were ignored. It is understood unions think BHP is trying to stall via its FWC request. The unions said the company had also questioned the validity of ETU and AMWU votes that cleared the way for protected industrial action.
“BHP’s application relies on obtuse technicalities and has little objective merit,” a spokesman for the combined port unions said. “The way to solve this dispute is to negotiate a fair, transparent, enforceable agreement that recognises the specialist skills, difficult conditions and significant personal cost of workers who delivered the company a $15bn profit last year.”
A BHP spokesman said it was working towards an enterprise agreement at Port Hedland as quickly and constructively as possible. BHP said it had held eight meetings with union representatives and tabled a draft agreement that includes annual pay rises of 4 per cent over four years for the majority of port employees, improved allowances and simplified pay structures.
“BHP remains committed to bargaining in good faith, and believes that having an independent facilitator is the most constructive, transparent and fair way to achieve the best outcome,” the spokesman said.
Unions and BHP are scheduled to meet again on Tuesday.
The unions have timed Thursday’s strike to cause maximum disruption on a day of favourable tides for ship loading at the world’s biggest bulk export port. The eight-hour strike will cross over two shifts in an attempt to prevent at least two shipments leaving port.