西澳大利亚最大散货出口港Port Hedland的多个工会组织于周末发起罢工行动，涉及电气工会、澳大利亚制造业工人工会和西部矿工联盟成员[1]。工业行动包括周六24小时禁止船舶装货和周日上午5:30开始的24小时全面停工[1]。工会要求必和必拓(BHP)以诚意进行谈判，达成可接受的企业协议[1]。
必和必拓方面对罢工行动作出强硬回应，声称将继续进行装货工作并按计划派遣船只[1]。公司威胁参与罢工的员工将被扣除整天工资[1]。工会指责BHP最近发出书面通信，以同样的扣薪威胁施压参与禁令的员工[1]。据BHP透露，约1200人在该港口设施工作[1]。双方计划于8月18日继续进行谈判[1]。
Union members at Port Hedland, Western Australia's largest bulk export terminal, launched a two-day strike action spanning Saturday and Sunday [1]. The industrial action included a 24-hour ban on ship loading on Saturday and a full work stoppage beginning at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday for a further 24 hours [1]. Members from the Electrical Trades Union, the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, and the Western Australian Mines and Energy Union participated in the action [1].
The unions are demanding that BHP engage in good-faith negotiations to reach an acceptable enterprise agreement [1]. BHP stated it would continue cargo operations and proceed with scheduled vessel dispatches [1]. The company indicated it would deduct a full day's wages from employees participating in the strike [1], a threat that prompted the unions to cite written communications from BHP warning of wage penalties for workers involved in the ban [1]. Approximately 1,200 people work at the port facility, according to BHP [1].
Both parties are scheduled to resume negotiations on August 18 [1].