BHP ejects union delegates from Port Hedland site amid dispute
During a right-of-entry visit at BHP’s Port Hedland operations, three elected union representatives were escorted off the premises, prompting the Electrical Trades Union to threaten Federal Court action.
Union leaders from the Electrical Trades Union and the Australian Workers' Union attempted a right-of-entry meeting at BHP’s Port Hedland facility when a manager instructed them to sit in a space with no seating. Security personnel escorted the three elected representatives off the site, and police were present at the terminal entrance, though no charges were filed. BHP accused the delegates of aggressive conduct toward a female employee and reiterated its commitment to a safe, respectful workplace.
The ETU contends the removal violates the Fair Work Act and ILO conventions, announcing plans to file a Federal Court claim. The Fair Work Commission declined comment as the case heads to court. Separately, a contractor suffered a broken elbow in an incident unrelated to the strike, which is under investigation by BHP and WorkSafe.
Why it matters
The incident highlights escalating tensions in a major Australian mining dispute and could set a legal precedent for union access rights.
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