Workers at BHP’s iron ore operations in the Pilbara region went on strike on Thursday, the first in decades in a key mining area. About half of the 450 workers at the Port Hedland export terminal joined an eight‑hour walkout over pay and employment conditions, following months of stalled labour talks. The Pilbara is a global source of iron ore, vital to steel production, and the strike threatens the region’s long‑standing role in Australia’s economy.

The action involved maintenance and operational staff from three unions and came after unsuccessful negotiations with BHP on Tuesday. Workers highlight that their individual contracts vary widely and that overall pay has eroded over the past decade. A vote in June authorised the strike, and the Fair Work Commission will mediate a new negotiation scheduled for 21 July.

BHP, one of the world’s largest iron ore producers, is also shifting investment toward copper to meet demand from AI data centres and electric‑vehicle charging networks. The company reported iron ore output fell 3 per cent year‑on‑year, while copper production fell 5 per cent and could decline 15 per cent next year as mine concentrations drop.