MUA Seeks Industrial Action at Pilbara Ports

The MUA is currently bargaining for two replacement agreements across several locations in the Pilbara. With bargaining commencing at Port Hedland in November 2024 the company had come in with a fixed position not willing to budge or negotiate with their workforce as they continually blame the State Government and its Public Sector Wages Policy for the inability to reach agreement.

"In our meetings we continue to see the Pilbara Port Authority blame the State Government for an inability to reach agreement. They cry poor in negotiation meetings with the Union and say the complete opposite to the state government during recent state budget submissions," said MUA North West Organiser Joel O'Brien.

Pilbara Ports achieved a record 775.7 million tonnes of exports/imports in FY 24/25 totalling $153 billion worth of commodities across the four ports, a net profit after tax of $246 million in FY 23/24, and providing state budget submissions that forecast almost a billion dollars in net profit over the next four years.

"We find it incredibly hard to believe that they can't meet our claims," said Joel O'Brien.

After months of refusing to respond to the Union's claims, the MUA filed a bargaining dispute at the Fair Work Commission to seek a mediated outcome. This application was discontinued after the PPA refused to engage in any meaningful way.

In May 2025, the company put a non-union agreement out to vote in Port Hedland which received a majority 'No' vote.

Instead of returning to the table to seek to fix the outstanding issues, the company pulled their offer off the table and put forward a second-rate offer that was worse than their first. The Union continues to receive mixed messages about why the company can't reach agreement despite the impact it has on their own employees.

After the Union dismissed the company's attempt to portray government as the problem, the company filed their own bargaining dispute at the FWC. In preparation for this the Union put forward a proposal that met them on their own cost parameters, provided a number of improved conditions were met. Several weeks later the MUA is still yet to receive a formal response to this position, prompting the membership to endorse filing a Protected Action Ballot Order.

This will cover the Utah Point Bulk Handling Facility in the first instance, which will affect Atlas Iron and Mineral Resources iron ore exports.

The MUA will file for further Protected Industrial Action at Eastern Harbour in Port Hedland and Dampier Cargo Wharf which will affect a wide range of imports and exports in Port Hedland and Dampier.