BHP says vessels were loaded and departed as scheduled despite the weekend strike action. (ABC News: Andrew Seabourne)<\/p>\n
Unionised staff have resumed work after 48 hours of industrial action at BHP's facilities in Port Hedland, Western Australia.<\/p>\n
BHP has indicated the action caused minimal disruption to its operations, but unions say the strike had the desired effect.<\/p>\n
The two parties will return to the Fair Work Commission for another meeting on August 18.<\/p>\n
As unionised BHP staff return to work after 48 hours of industrial action, the strike's full impact on the mining giant and Australia's largest export port remains contested.<\/p>\n
Members of the Electrical Trades Union (ETU), the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU), and the Australian Workers' Union (AWU) downed tools over the weekend at the miner's operations in Port Hedland, 1600km north of Perth in WA's Pilbara.<\/p>\n
It represented the latest escalation of the combined port unions' dispute with the miner, which has dragged on for months.<\/p>\n
Workers from three unions took strike action over the weekend at BHP's operations in Port Hedland. (ABC News: Glyn Jones)<\/p>\n
While the unions claimed the weekend's dispute caused more disruption than last month's eight-hour stoppage, BHP and official sources indicated minimal impact overall.<\/p>\n
Unlike the July strike, there was no demonstration or picket line, with unions telling their members to simply stay home.<\/p>\n
Union sources said all but three eligible staff at BHP's port facility took part in the actions over Saturday and yesterday, with three of the miner's iron ore loaders operating at significantly reduced capacity.<\/p>\n
But BHP said about 20 staff participated in protected industrial action on Saturday and 90 yesterday.<\/p>\n
Four vessels still departed the port on Saturday and four yesterday.<\/p>\n
A further three bulk carriers were expected to depart Port Hedland today.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for port operator Pilbara Ports said it had not anticipated any broader disruption.<\/p>\n