Western Mine Workers Alliance members are set to join industrial action at BHP's Port Hedland operations after almost all members voted to endorse the action.
Western Mine Workers Alliance members are set to join industrial action at BHP's Port Hedland operations after almost all members voted to endorse the action.
The WMWA, an alliance between the Australian Workers Union and the Mining and Energy Union, said in a statement on Monday that 97 per cent of its members had backed the action.
It makes them the third union with staff working at BHP's Port Hedland operations to ask its members the question, after the Electrical Trades Union and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union.
Ballots of members at both of those unions backed the push for work stoppages between 30 minutes and 24 hours last month.
Neither has called a strike as of yet, but any strikes that do take place would be the first protected industrial action taken in the Pilbara in more than 30 years.
The unions' escalations came as part of bargaining with BHP for a new enterprise agreement covering some 450 workers at the port.
Business News understands the WMWA represents more than 100 production operators at BHP's port operations.
"The results send a clear message that workers are united and determined to secure a fair agreement," a WMWA spokesperson said.
"Tomorrow's bargaining meeting is an important opportunity for BHP to demonstrate it is prepared to engage constructively and make meaningful progress towards a deal that workers can support."
A contact within the WMWA told Business News two motions were voted through by members.
The first, the same as the other two unions, was for stoppages between 30 minutes and 24 hours.
The second was for their workers to completely halt loading bulk carriers with iron ore; an option the other two unions in the action did not have at their disposal.
A BHP spokesperson told Business News negotiations were ongoing.
“We have delivered a new enterprise agreement at Mining Area C and South Flank that rewards 1800 workers—without industrial action," the spokesperson said.
“Our intention is to find ways to lock in industry-leading pay and conditions for our Port Operations Team, while preserving the flexibility needed to keep our operations safe, reliable, and productive for all of us.”
