00:02Workers responsible for the electrical network powering BHP's vast Pilbara operations are
00:08threatening to down tools. They want the same pay for the same job.
00:12There's up to a 30% discrepancy in their wages. Depending on when they were hired in a boom
00:19or bust period, depends on what their wages and conditions are.
00:22Union members have voted to take protected action after months of negotiations.
00:27It's likely to go to action due to BHP's hubris attitude towards our negotiations.
00:32There could be work stoppages between 15 minutes and 48 hours.
00:37This is a time at which the mining sector and government are coming together to keep the
00:43economy running. And we have a union that's revelling in the chaos it's causing.
00:50The union wants a base salary of $249,000. But the mining lobby argues it would actually
00:56double workers total pay to $400,000 and drag the industry back to the strikes of the 1970s
01:04and 80s.
01:05And now what we see is a return to those sorts of conditions and a threat to our global competitiveness.
01:14It would be the first industrial action at BHP's Pilbara mines this century.
01:18This will be one of the first of many to occur in the Pilbara.
01:22BHP says it has plans in place to continue its operations in case there is industrial action.
01:28And says its focus remains on constructive negotiations with the union to maintain what
01:33it calls industry leading pay and conditions.
01:36Labor have opened the door to this sort of union activity which jeopardises the very industry
01:43that keeps our state and our country moving.
01:46The Cook government is urging the parties to reach an agreement.
01:49It's very important for all members to join together.
01:53Well, that's always true before that.
01:55Overall, you can't request any political parties.
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