Hundreds of workers at BHP Group's Port Hedland iron ore operations in Australia are scheduled to conduct an eight-hour work stoppage on Thursday, July 16. The Combined BHP Ports Union announced the strike following a five-hour bargaining session on Tuesday that failed to produce an agreement. The stoppage is set to take place from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. local time.
The dispute follows six months of negotiations regarding the terms of a new four-year labor contract. Port Hedland serves as a primary export hub for BHP, handling approximately $80 million of iron ore daily. Union representatives stated that they intend to proceed with the protected industrial action as notified, with further negotiations scheduled to resume on Tuesday, July 21.
BHP issued a statement expressing disappointment in the union's decision to proceed with the strike after what the company described as positive progress during Tuesday's talks. The company stated it has implemented contingency plans to ensure operations continue safely during the disruption. BHP is also scheduled to report its quarterly financial results on the same day the strike occurs.