Strikes at Australia's Largest Port Could Cost Millions

ABC Pilbara

Topic: Unions

Saturday, 8 August 2026, at 7:44 am

BHP workers stopped working in July.

Strikes at Australia's largest port may cost BHP $100 million and the West Australian government $7 million.

The dispute between BHP and its workers is very important.

The strikes could stop a lot of shipping from Port Hedland.

There will be a 24-hour ship loading ban and a 24-hour general stoppage.

Port Hedland is very important.

BHP ships all its Australian iron ore through Port Hedland.

There are two kinds of ports: bulk and container ports.

Bulk ports ship commodities like iron ore and grains.

The port's size is hard to understand.

Over 800 million tonnes of commodities left the ports last year.

Port Hedland is the second-largest town in the Pilbara.

Who controls the port?

The port has 19 operational berths, with 8 belonging to BHP.

About 1,200 workers keep the port running, with 450 employed by BHP.

Of those 450 workers, 236 are union members.

Dr Jackson said Port Hedland ships more than the next three biggest ports.

It is the largest bulk export port in the world.

Many industries use iron ore from Port Hedland.

Where does the ore go?

The iron ore is transported to countries like China, Korea, and Japan.

A bulk carrier is loaded with iron ore at Port Hedland.

BHP's iron ore operations are in the Pilbara.

BHP produced 290 million tonnes of iron ore last year.

What's happening this weekend?

The industrial action is a big increase from the 8 hours in July.

Unions and BHP have been negotiating since October last year.

No agreement has been reached after 11 bargaining meetings.

The negotiations involve three unions: ETU, AMWU, and Western Mine Worker's Alliance.

The AWU will participate in a ban on ship loading and a work stoppage.

Tomorrow's action will not be like the rally in July.

An eight-hour strike was staged by unionised BHP staff in July.

The message to workers is to not come to work.

Electrical workers near Newman will also down tools on Sunday.

BHP has contingency plans to limit disruption.

Is there a way forward?

A bargaining meeting last week showed positive progress.

BHP said the strike is unnecessary.

The union message also points to a potential resolution.

The next meeting is scheduled for August 18.

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