ETU has alleged that BHP representatives were unlawfully removed from the BHP facility in Port Hedland
The Australian Electrical Trades Union (ETU) stated that BHP illegally removed three elected employee representatives from its facility in Port Hedland. The incident occurred on Thursday during a visit by union officials who arrived at the facility to exercise their right of access to the workplace, according to ABC News Australia.
According to the ETU, security guards escorted out two representatives from that union and one representative from the Australian Workers’ Union. The union claims this happened after they refused to comply with an order to sit in a room where, it says, there was nowhere to sit. The representatives were preparing to hold a meeting with workers when a manager gave them this order.
BHP stated that all visitors to the company’s facilities are required to follow established rules. The company also accused the union representatives of aggressive behavior toward a BHP employee who asked them to comply with the instruction. BHP emphasized that aggressive behavior in the workplace is unacceptable.
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The Western Australian Police confirmed that they were called to the BHP site this morning. Law enforcement officials stated that they had not been in contact with union members, had not accused anyone, and were not conducting an investigation.
Adam Woodidge, the ETU secretary for Western Australia, called BHP management’s decision to use security guards to remove employee representatives a violation of the Fair Work Act and the International Labor Organization’s conventions on freedom of association. The ETU stated that it intends to file a complaint with the Federal Court. The Fair Work Commission declined to comment on the situation, as the matter is pending before the court.
The dispute comes amid an ongoing labor dispute between BHP and the unions in Port Hedland, where the parties are engaged in negotiations and workers have staged strikes of varying scales. Separately, BHP and the regulator WorkSafe are investigating a reported incident in which a contractor’s hand was crushed, resulting in a broken elbow. According to the ABC, this occurred during scheduled maintenance in an area not affected by the strike.
