AMWU threatens ‘industrial mayhem’ in Pilbara unless BHP meets its demands

The union infiltration of BHP is spreading from mine to port after the iron ore giant was hit with a bargaining application covering more than 300 workers. The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and the Electrical Trades Union claim to have signed up 203 metal workers and electricians at BHP’s two iron ore port facilities in WA — both located at Port Hedland. More than half the workforce wants a new agreement, according to the two unions, which have formally applied for a majority support determination from the Fair Work Commission. The AMWU and ETU can start bargaining on behalf of all 312 workers if the workplace umpire grants the determination. The Albanese Government’s changes to industrial relations laws has spurred the union mania gripping the economically-vital iron ore mines of the Pilbara. The ETU earlier this month forced BHP to concede a majority of its high voltage electricians and linesmen wanted a new agreement. And this week the AMWU threatened to force BHP to the FWC if its negotiation demands over the massive South Flank and Mining Area C iron ore mines were not met. The AMWU warned that not caving to its demands would lead to “industrial mayhem” in BHP’s business. This came less than a fortnight after the Australian Workers Union — acting on behalf of its informal Western Mine Workers Alliance partnership with the Mining and Energy Union — made an application to the FWC. The AWU claimed BHP was not acting “in good faith” and said the miner had “again postponed its scheduled bargaining meeting”. BHP declined to comment on the latest union action by the AMWU and the ETU. Adam Woodage, the ETU’s WA state secretary, claimed conditions for electricians working for BHP’s two port facilities have “been going backwards for years”. “BHP and other miners can drag union officials’ names through the mud all they want. The reality is that their workforce are sick of being treated like mugs and are standing up demanding something better through this process,” Mr Woodage said. AMWU WA state secretary Steve McCartney said metal workers at BHP ports were “demanding” an agreement that reflects “their importance to the national economy”. BHP’s main Pilbara iron ore rival is also in union cross-hairs. Last month, the AWU took Rio Tinto to the workplace umpire to get an agreement covering one of its iron ore mines. The AWU claims to have signed up more than half of Rio’s Paraburdoo mining workforce — equating to “well over” 400 employees required for the FWC to issue a majority support bargaining order. Earlier this month, BHP’s chief people officer Jad Vodopija lamented the union impact on productivity at BHP’s crucial WA iron ore operations. “In the Pilbara alone across the last 12 months, right of entries have increased by 400 per cent, and the reason that’s a big deal isn’t the right of entry itself, but it’s the complicatedness that brings into your business there, the distraction for your line leaders and supervisors needing to shepherd and steward these individuals,” Ms Vodopija said. “Then on a weekly basis, folks in my team are at the (Fair Work) Commission because now I’ve got argy-bargy over which union is going to represent this body of employees or that body of employees.” The West Australian on Thursday revealed officials from the scandal-plagued CFMEU, a union the Albanese Government is trying to sideline, are spearheading the push to re-unionise the Pilbara.