BHP Port Hedland workers set to strike next week

Hundreds of BHP workers look set to walk off the job at Port Hedland next week in what would be the Western Australian mining industry's most significant industrial action for a quarter of a century.

It comes after talks between the mining giant and unions aimed at improving workers' pay and conditions failed to reach a result.

The unions, which represent hundreds of workers at the mining giant's Port Hedland operations, said they had given BHP the required five days' notice to strike.

Between 150 and 200 workers are expected to walk off the job at 2pm on July 16, with the stoppage lasting until 10pm.

The dispute at the port, Australia's largest export facility, stands to threaten $120 million in revenue a day for the company and $6.85 million in royalty payments to the WA government, according to the latest available data.

Negotiations between the combined ports unions — the Western Mine Workers Alliance, the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, and the Electrical Trades Union — and the mining giant wrapped up on Tuesday without a definitive outcome.

ETU WA secretary Adam Woodage told 102.5 ABC Perth that BHP had failed to negotiate in good faith.

He said the strike would land on what was known as a "double-up day" at the port, with twice as many workers on site for critical maintenance and operational handovers.

But he said the action would still have a "significant impact" on business.

"This is nobody's preferred way forward, but when it is our only way forward we will take it," he said.

"I hope this sharpens the minds of BHP workers and shareholders on the importance of negotiating a fair, safe and productive iron ore industry.

BHP previously said its focus remained on securing an outcome that maintained "industry-leading pay and conditions" for its workforce.

"In the event of union disruption at our sites, we have strong contingency plans in place to protect our people and ensure safe, reliable operations can continue," a spokesperson said.

Industrial landscape shifting

Unions have steadily been regaining their foothold in the Pilbara since the Albanese government's changes to industrial relations in 2022.

Edith Cowan University industrial relations expert Alexis Vassiley said the strike's impact could change the industrial landscape across the mining region.

"What you see is that this will likely put real pressure on the company at the bargaining table," Dr Vassiley said.

"If the unions were able to win a successful enterprise agreement, it would actually change and challenge the industrial relations model that's been operating in the region for around 30 years."

It has sparked criticism from mining companies and Western Australia's Chamber of Minerals and Energy, which have argued any increase in industrial activity across the region threatened the national economy.

But unions rejected suggestions the strike could drive miners offshore.

The ETU's Adam Woodage said members' request for a $25,000 pay increase could be met with an additional 9 cents of every $100/tonne of iron ore sold.

"I think that's well within [BHP's] affordability range," Mr Woodage said.

Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King and WA Premier Roger Cook have both urged the unions and BHP to come to an agreement, while backing workers' right to take industrial action.

Workers at the miner's South Flank and Mining Area C endorsed a new bargaining agreement last week, covering more than 1,800 staff, despite unions campaigning against it.

The agreement was endorsed by 58 per cent of the vote.