The weekend strike at mining company BHP’s operations in Port Hedland, one of Australia’s key iron ore export hubs, has concluded.
As part of the action involving unions representing electrical, manufacturing and other port workers, a 24 hour ban on ship loading activities was imposed on Saturday. On Sunday, employees went on a full work stoppage.
Approximately 150 unionized workers participated in the two day action before returning to work.
BHP and unions differ over impact of strike
As the strike ended, BHP and the unions provided different assessments of its impact on the company’s port operations.
BHP stated that the industrial action had a limited impact on its operations and that ship loading activities continued. The unions, meanwhile, said the action had created the intended pressure on the company’s operations.
BHP employs approximately 1,200 workers in the Port Hedland area, while the unions represent around 450 operations and maintenance workers under the new enterprise agreement.
Wage negotiations to continue
Although the strike has ended, collective bargaining between the parties remains unresolved.
The dispute centers on wage increases, as well as demands to protect existing working conditions and employee rights under the new enterprise agreement.
BHP has offered employees a 16% wage increase over a four year period, while the unions are seeking stronger protection for existing wages and benefits in the agreement.
Negotiations conducted through the Fair Work Commission are scheduled to resume on August 18. BHP is expected to present an updated offer during the meeting.
The weekend action at Port Hedland was the second strike by workers in BHP’s port operations in the past month. In July, employees also staged an eight hour work stoppage, after which the parties continued negotiations.
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