BHP staff down tools for historic strike in Western Australia

BHP staff down tools as landmark strike begins in Port Hedland Thu 16 Jul 2026 at 5:12pm In short: Unionised staff at BHP's operations in Port Hedland have walked off the job for an eight-hour strike. Family and supporters of the workers began gathering about half an hour before the strike began. The stoppage will cost BHP and the West Australian government millions of dollars in lost revenue and royalties. Hundreds of BHP staff have downed tools for one of the most significant industrial disputes to hit Australia's resources sector in a quarter of a century. Unions said about 200 workers at the mining giant's operations in Port Hedland walked off the job at 2pm, disrupting ongoing work at Australia's largest bulk export port. They were warmly welcomed by supporters and union staff, who had assembled before the protected industrial action got underway. A "family-friendly" picket has been established outside the gates, with sausages cooking on the barbecue, and pickleball and face painting for assembled children. The eight-hour stoppage is expected to cost the company millions of dollars in lost revenue, with foregone royalties also set to hit the state government's budget bottom line. The combined ports unions — the Electrical Trades Union (ETU), Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and the Western Mine Workers Alliance — have been locked in negotiations with BHP for months. The miner took the matter to the Fair Work Commission last week seeking the regulator's assistance for an outcome. A BHP spokesperson labelled the strike action as disappointing, and said it had contingency plans in place to limit disruption. "We remain committed to bargaining in good faith and believe involving the Commission is the most constructive, transparent and fair way to achieve the best outcome," the spokesperson said. Mining lobby says economy at risk The strike comes as the miner reported record quarterly production, with Western Australia's Chamber of Minerals and Energy arguing the action put that success and investment at risk. Chamber chief executive Aaron Morey said the strike was "uncharted territory", criticising the federal and West Australian Labor governments for failing to intervene. "The world is watching this afternoon … international customers and international investors are watching," he said. "We've got some unions up in the north of the state that are holding up Australia's biggest economic asset. "And they're holding it up for face painting and bouncy castles." But ETU state secretary Adam Woodage pointed to recent investment decisions by BHP, and record production figures announced today. "The reason they've had record production is because they've got a highly-skilled workforce that delivers those results here in Port Hedland," Mr Woodage said. "The ETU remains ready, willing and able to negotiate; they can ring me this afternoon, and I'll go in the gates here if they want to cut a deal." ETU members in Brisbane and Melbourne rallied in support of the strike action today.