Hundreds of workers at BHP’s Port Hedland operations in Western Australia have walked off the job in a major industrial dispute affecting one of the world’s largest iron ore export hubs. The strike marks one of the most significant mining industry disruptions in the region in decades.

The protected industrial action was organised by the Combined BHP Port Unions, including representatives from the Electrical Trades Union (ETU), Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) and other worker groups. The dispute follows months of unsuccessful negotiations between employees and BHP over a new enterprise agreement.

Workers are seeking improvements in areas including:

Pay and wage structures Job classifications Career progression Transparency around employment conditions

Union representatives argue that many workers have been operating under individual contracts that lack consistency and fairness.

The strike affected operations at Port Hedland, a critical export location for Australian iron ore. The port handles large volumes of shipments that supply global steel markets, particularly in Asia.

BHP said it remains committed to reaching an agreement and has proposed improved conditions, including a multi-year pay increase package. The company said it has contingency plans in place to maintain safe operations during the industrial action.

The dispute comes as Australia’s mining sector continues to balance strong global demand for resources with increasing pressure from workers seeking better wages and workplace conditions.

Further negotiations between BHP and unions are expected as both sides attempt to resolve the disagreement and avoid additional disruptions.