BHP Staff Return to Work Following 48-Hour Strike at Port Hedland

As unionised BHP staff return to work after 48 hours of industrial action, the strike's full impact on the mining giant and Australia's largest export port remains contested.

Members of the Electrical Trades Union (ETU), the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU), and the Australian Workers' Union (AWU) downed tools over the weekend at the miner's operations in Port Hedland, 1600km north of Perth in WA's Pilbara.

It represented the latest escalation of the combined port unions' dispute with the miner, which has dragged on for months.

While the unions claimed the weekend's dispute caused more disruption than last month's eight-hour stoppage, BHP and official sources indicated minimal impact overall.

Unlike the July strike, there was no demonstration or picket line, with unions telling their members to simply stay home.

Union sources said all but three eligible staff at BHP's port facility took part in the actions over Saturday and yesterday, with three of the miner's iron ore loaders operating at significantly reduced capacity.

But BHP said about 20 staff participated in protected industrial action on Saturday and 90 yesterday.

Four vessels still departed the port on Saturday and four yesterday.

A further three bulk carriers were expected to depart Port Hedland today.

A spokesperson for port operator Pilbara Ports said it had not anticipated any broader disruption.

"The industrial action is not expected to have any impact on Pilbara Ports operations," the spokesperson said.

"As this is a matter involving BHP and its workforce, questions relating to the industrial action are best directed to BHP."

What effect did the strike have?

Despite the low-key nature of the weekend's strike action, unions insist it had a substantial impact.

The ETU, whose members involved in high voltage electrical work at Newman also took separate industrial action over the weekend, is also claiming increased membership since the dispute began.

But BHP is adamant it was business as usual.

"Our focus remains on reaching a fair and reasonable agreement."

Premier Roger Cook said he encouraged both parties to work towards an agreement.

"We want those workers to get the best wages and conditions they can," Mr Cook said today.

"We want them to work with their union, and we want the union to work with their employers.

"We want their employers to be productive, profitable and sustainable, and the way they do that is coming together and reaching an agreement."

WA's Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CMEWA) said the strike would be felt beyond the weekend's operation and ship movements.

"It appears that the company was able to maintain its production and, most importantly, was able to keep everyone involved safe," chief executive Aaron Morey said.

"The other concerning impact is that this sends a signal to the world that the Pilbara is a conflict-ridden environment, which makes it more difficult to attract investments into the sector."

Next round of negotiations

The miner and unions will return to the Fair Work Commission next week, for the 12th meeting between the parties since the dispute began.

BHP has committed to tabling an updated offer, labelling the ongoing industrial action as unnecessary and disruptive.

"Our approach will deliver greater pay consistency across the workforce while locking in industry-leading pay and conditions," a BHP spokesperson said.

"With another meeting scheduled and an updated proposal to come, we have made significant progress with the commission's assistance."

Unions said that movement was the direct result of the strike action, with ETU state secretary Adam Woodage arguing it was beginning to achieve recognition of "uneven" and "extreme" conditions.

"Prior to the notification of industrial action they were stonewalled for month after month," he said.

"Our most recent meeting was productive and identified a path forward."

"We look forward pursuing this path and negotiating an agreement for a safe, fair and productive iron ore industry."