BHP has faced a second day of industrial action at Port Hedland over the weekend, with more workers joining stoppages as the dispute between the miner and the Combined Ports Unions continues to escalate.
Around 150 workers took part in Sunday’s action, following a 24‑hour ship‑loading stoppage the previous day — the most significant industrial disruption at the iron‑ore export hub in more than two decades.
Despite the walk‑offs, BHP said vessels continued to be loaded through contingency plans and that scheduled departures were proceeding subject to normal port planning and tides.
A spokesperson said the company’s priority remained “safe and productive operations” across the 1200‑person port workforce, and rejected union claims that workers had been threatened with loss of pay, arguing workplace laws do not require payment for duties subject to an industrial ban.
Unions used the weekend action to reinforce their position publicly, with the ETU, AMWU and AWU all posting messages of support for workers on social media.
ETU officials said members were seeking “an honest deal, in black and white”, while AMWU representatives described the stoppages as the result of “glacial progress” at the bargaining table.
The AWU said the Combined Ports Unions “will not be deterred by threats or intimidation”, and warned the dispute could continue until BHP delivers enforceable conditions and pay consistency.
The action has added pressure to BHP’s Pilbara network, with unions saying the specialised nature of electrical, mechanical and ship‑loading roles means stoppages have a broader operational impact.
High‑voltage workers near Newman also staged a 12‑hour stoppage over the weekend, further intensifying the dispute.
BHP maintains that bargaining is progressing with assistance from the Fair Work Commission and says further strike action is unnecessary.
The company will present an updated proposal at the next bargaining meeting on 18 August, the same day it releases annual results.
Pilbara Ports Authority has not issued any public comment on the weekend action, and no operational alerts have been published.
While Port Hedland is the world’s largest bulk export hub, the dispute is confined to BHP’s facilities, and the authority has not reported disruption to its own berths or broader port operations.