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BHP workers strike in Port Hedland. Pictured is ETU WA secretary Adam Woodage

MiningPremiumUnions reject BHP’s $25k pay sweetener for port workers

Unions agitating for a new deal at BHP’s Pilbara iron ore port have rejected the Big Australian’s improved offer, which includes a $25,000 ‘transition payment’ and higher wage rises for ‘most’ workers.

Adrian Rauso

Industrial action at one of Broome’s largest ports has been suspended following a three-week strike.

WA NewsPremiumIndustrial action at Broome Port to be suspended

MUAWA branch secretary Will Tracey confirmed the parties reached an agreement in principle on Friday following a mammoth eight-hour meeting with the Fair Work Commission.

Jessica Evensen

Disputes at BHP’s Port Hedland site with the union have deepened.

MiningPremiumBHP-union stoush escalates with police called to site

Relations between unions and BHP at the miner’s WA iron ore port have hit a new low after police were called for what the miner claimed was ‘aggressive behaviour’ towards a woman by three union officials.

Adrian Rauso

News. BHP workers strike in Port Hedland. The entrance to the BHP site on Wilson street Port Hedland showing the placed out cones in the background.

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Worker’s arm crushed as unions staged BHP port strike

WA’s safety regulator is investigating BHP’s Pilbara iron ore port after a contractor had his arm crushed earlier this month on the same weekend that unions staged a strike.

Adrian Rauso

Industrial action at one of Broome’s main ports will be scaled back from Monday morning following fresh discussions between the Maritime Union of Australia and the Kimberley Ports Authority. 

WA NewsPremiumBroome port strikes to be scaled back after negotiations

Industrial action at one of Broome’s main ports will be scaled back from Monday morning following fresh negotiations between the Maritime Union of Australia and the Kimberley Ports Authority. 

Jessica Evensen

Manual loading operation at BHP Port Hedland

MiningPremiumUnions dial up claims of BHP strike impact

Unions claim their weekend strike at BHP’s sole WA iron ore port wiped out about $US20 million of export income, but the company insists operations weren’t materially disrupted.

Adrian Rauso

A BHP spokesperson said the port was still functioning and negotiations were continuing.

State PoliticsPremiumBHP says operations continuing despite WA strike action

Mining giant BHP says product is still making its way onto boats despite 48-hours of industrial action from a group of unions beginning on Saturday with a day’s ban on loading ships.

Oliver Lane

News. BHP workers strike in Port Hedland. The union set up on the grass out the front of the entrance to the BHP site in Port Hedland.

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Union blow as member nerves show ahead of BHP strike action

A key union at BHP’s WA iron ore port has thrown a spanner in the works of planned strike action this weekend, fuelled by member fears of losing two days’ pay.

Adrian Rauso and Oliver Lane

The planned pay package has been under negotiation for more than two years.

AviationPremiumQantas pilots back strike action as pay talks drag on

Qantas international pilots have voted in favour of potential strikes as part of years-long negotiations over pay and conditions.

Angus Whitley

The $2.8 billion Alkimos seawater desalination plant.

WaterPremiumHundreds set to walk off job at Water Corp over pay feud

Hundreds of workers at State Government-owned Water Corporation are set to strike next week as an ongoing pay dispute escalates.

Matt Mckenzie

Day three of the 2026 Diggers and Dealers Mining Forum, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, on Wednesday. Pictured is Mines Minister Daniel Pastorelli and Member for Kalgoorlie Ali Kent. Carwyn Monck

MiningPremiumRookie minister rules out uranium ban U-turn

Mines Minister Daniel Pastorell ruled out lifting WA’s uranium mining ban despite a Federal deal and is not tempted to bump up the gold royalty rate amid sky-high prices for the precious metal.

Adrian Rauso

BHP workers strike in Port Hedland last month.

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Unions confirm weekend BHP strike after talks end early

Unions have vowed to escalate strikes at BHP’s WA iron ore port after a much shorter than expected meeting with the mining giant, which says there is no need for more industrial action.

Rebecca Le May and Jessica Page

Dino Otranto, chief executive, metals and operations at Fortescue.

MiningPremiumIron ore boss warns of contagion from $250m BHP strikes

BHP has garnered sympathy from one of its Pilbara iron ore rivals as union-led strikes escalate in an industry landscape that has ‘shifted dramatically’.

Adrian Rauso

BHP workers strike in Port Hedland earlier this month.

MiningPremiumUnions to ramp up major strike action against BHP

Union members at BHP’s sole WA iron ore port will significantly escalate industrial action despite their first strike falling flat.

Adrian Rauso

Michael Jurman tragically died while working on the North Rankin oil rig in 2023.

EnergyPremium‘Gutted’ mum’s 3-year wait for answers after oil rig tragedy

Investigations into the horrific death of a worker on a gas platform off the Pilbara coast more than three years ago are yet to be publicly released or result in any charges.

Rebecca Le May and Sean Smith

BHP Port Hedland Jackson Flindell

MiningPremiumBHP and union talks ‘constructive’ but no deal reached

A coalition of unions and BHP have pencilled in more talks next week after ‘some progress’ was made at their latest bargaining meeting to resolve a bitter pay dispute.

Adrian Rauso

Union-led strikes have failed to cripple BHP’s Pilbara iron ore port, with ships continuing to be loaded despite workers downing tools.

MiningPremiumUnion negotiations face setback after dismal BHP strike

An ambitious union push to reclaim WA’s iron ore industry suffered a severe setback after it was confirmed that a high-profile strike at BHP’s Port Hedland export hub yielded a dismal turnout.

Adrian Rauso

Unions striking at BHP’s WA port have finally lifted the lid on their pay demands, telling the Big Australian to cough up a $25,000 wage hike each worker to make the problem ‘go away’.

MiningPremium‘Pay up $25k & we’ll go away’: Unions reveal wage demands

Unions striking at BHP’s WA port have finally lifted the lid on their pay demands, telling the Big Australian to cough up a $25,000 wage hike for each worker to make the problem ‘go away’.

Adrian Rauso

Manual loading operation at BHP Port Hedland on 3pm Thursday. supplied

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Union-led strikes fail to cripple BHP’s iron ore port

Strikes have failed to cripple BHP’s Pilbara iron ore port, with ships continuing to be loaded despite workers downing tools.

Adrian Rauso

Mining workers are among the highest paid workers in Australia. So, why are they striking?

MiningPremiumWhat are BHP port workers really fighting for?

Battle lines have been drawn as workers join unions and mining companies fiercely resist change. So what does BHP want, and what new terms are today’s striking workers fighting for?

Alexis Vassiley

Delivering his first set of production results, newly minted chief executive Brandon Craig said BHP had finished the year strongly and had set several performance records.

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Strike action mars BHP’s record, new $1.3b mine plan

Strike action by BHP workers in the Pilbara today — the first in almost three decades — has marred revelations that the Big Australian has pulled in its biggest-ever haul of iron ore.

Daniel Newell

Brad Gandy Australian Workers Union WA State Secretary.

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‘I won’t listen to Cook’: Union leader striking against BHP

The senior Labor figure spearheading historic strikes against BHP has told Premier Roger Cook and any other political colleagues hoping for an end to the militant industrial action to get stuffed.

Adrian Rauso and Oliver Lane

AMWU WA state secretary Steve McCartney.

MiningPremiumStrikers defiant as BHP takes dispute to Fair Work

Unions will not allow the workplace umpire to derail planned strikes at BHP’s sole WA iron ore port, launching a final recruitment drive ahead of the historic industrial action.

Adrian Rauso and Jessica Page

A majority of about 80 members of the Australian Workers Union on Monday voted in favour of industrial action at BHP’s Port Hedland operations, adding to similar votes by the Electrical Trades Union and Australian Manufacturing Workers Union.

MiningD-day looms for BHP strikes at sole WA port

A meeting on Tuesday between BHP and three militant unions threatens WA’s busiest iron ore port and the riches it generates for the State.

Adrian Rauso