BHP and several unions are preparing to return to the bargaining table with the Fair Work Commission, following a weekend of industrial action at Port Hedland that escalated from targeted bans into full-scale work stoppages.
Both sides hope the upcoming mediated talks will break a months-long deadlock over pay and working conditions, after roughly 150 unionised workers walked off the job at Nelson Point and Finucane Island over Saturday and Sunday.
The weekend action was originally structured as a 48-hour sequence of protected industrial measures, beginning with a planned 24-hour ban on ship-loading tasks on Saturday morning before transitioning into a full 24-hour work stoppage on Sunday.
However, Saturday's targeted action quickly descended into an immediate full walkout when BHP issued written warnings stating that participating in loading bans would result in full-day pay deductions.
"This heavy-handed attempt to coerce our members into silence has backfired," the Western Mining Workers Alliance said in a statement.
"Rather than accept these threats, our members have chosen to exercise their rights under the Fair Work Act and did not present for work this morning."
BHP defended its position by noting that under workplace laws, employers are not required to pay workers for shifts subject to industrial bans.
"Workplace laws are clear that we are not required to pay for the portion of an employee's work that is subject to an industrial ban," BHP said in a statement.
The disruption expanded on Sunday morning as planned, with a full 24-hour withdrawal of labour by the Combined Ports Unions—representing the Australian Workers' Union, the Electrical Trades Union, and the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union.
High-voltage and power maintenance workers responsible for regional power infrastructure also joined with a separate 12-hour stoppage.
"AWU WA Assistant Secretary Craig Beveridge said the action sent an unmistakable message to management.
"BHP has continually refused to negotiate in good faith, and these actions are a direct message to the company that all union members are standing together in solidarity," said AWU WA Assistant Secretary and WMWA spokesperson Craig Beveridge.
"They are strong, and they are prepared to take whatever action is necessary to secure an enterprise agreement that is acceptable to the workforce."
Mr Beveridge said, following Sunday's action, both sides understood the magnitude of the disruption.
"Our members know the impact of them withdrawing their labour at Port Hedland over this weekend was significant and BHP knows the impact of our members withdrawing their labour this weekend was significant," Beveridge said.
"Our hope is that this protected industrial action does exactly what it’s intended to do, which is sharpen all parties’ minds on finding a solution that works for everyone fast."
The stakes remain significant for both the mining giant and state economy as a whole.
A complete 24-hour stoppage carries an estimated daily revenue impact between $100 million and $120 million for BHP based on its average daily shipping rate of nearly 800,000 tonnes, while peak industry bodies warn the action could cost the state up to $15 million in lost royalties.
Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA chief executive Aaron Morey previously criticised the decision to push ahead with industrial action following preliminary conciliation meetings.
"What we're seeing from the ETU today is a significant amount of disrespect towards the Fair Work Commission and the Deputy President, who's scheduled to convene and facilitate those discussions next week," Morey said.
"We've known all along, since back in March, that the Electrical Trades Union was keen to do as much industrial action as possible, and they're following through with that plan."
The unions say workers are seeking an enterprise agreement establishing clear job classifications, enforceable conditions, higher base pay rates, guaranteed annual increases, and pay parity across individual contracts.
Ahead of the August 18 session, BHP expressed confidence that conciliation would deliver results.
"With another meeting scheduled and an updated proposal to come, we have made significant progress with the Commission's assistance, and there is no need for the unions to continue with their planned industrial action," the company said before the weekend strikes.
