Roger Cook warns of job losses from industrial action after BHP turns the tables on ETU with pay threat

The first worker strike on a WA mine site this century is off to a rocky start after BHP forced a partial union back down and Premier Roger Cook warned of job losses from industrial action. Industrial action was just a few hours old on Thursday when BHP issued legal notices to two ETU members who were refusing to step up as supervisors. The legal notices included a threat to dock “100 per cent of their pay”, the ETU claimed. BHP said its actions followed the law. “We have notified our teams, in line with the Fair Work Act, that their pay may be reduced if they choose to participate in industrial action,” a company spokesman said. “Our focus remains on safe, reliable operations and continuing constructive bargaining, and we don’t expect any operational impacts from this industrial action.” The union said: “In response, workers met and agreed to withdraw the supervisor ban to stand in solidarity with their colleagues and protect them and their families from this disgraceful attack on their livelihoods,” the union stated. The ETU had previously said about 60 of its members across BHP’s WA iron ore sites would not step up into supervisor roles for a two week period as part of its broader strike threats. Chamber and Minerals Energy WA chief executive Aaron Morey said the ETU should not be shocked with the outcome. “When you go on strike, you don’t get paid. That’s how the real world operates,” Mr Morey said. “The only real surprise here is the ETU’s shock at workers being warned there are consequences for industrial action.” Mr Cook on Thursday warned union members against “protracted” industrial action when asked about the ETU-BHP situation. “We respect, and indeed, admire, the opportunity for workers to be collectively represented by their union,” he said. “But the Pilbara is an important opportunity, an economic opportunity, a jobs opportunity. “The fact of the matter is that if industrial action is escalated, if industrial action is protracted, that just leads to job losses. That doesn’t necessarily lead to better outcomes for those workers.” ETU WA secretary Adam Woodage previously warned the BHP strikes — believed to be the first on a WA mine site since the late 1980s — will be “one of the first of many to occur in the Pilbara”. “We’re over 6800 members, and that is in all industries — from lifts to mines to oil and gas construction,” he said last month. The union has put full-blown strikes on the cards if BHP does not cave to the its demands for significant pay rises and a large catalogue of extra allowances. These proposed annual allowances include $20,000 for nightshift work, $7000 for working in hot weather and a $6240 BHP contribution for private health insurance. They also want 200 per cent penalty rates for overtime and 300 per cent for public holiday work. Emboldened by the Albanese Government’s industrial relations regime, numerous other unions are also ramping up efforts to infiltrate WA’s mining heartland. BHP and Rio Tinto have been the two key targets so far.