00:02A family-friendly fate, as the fate of wages at the world's largest miner hang in the balance.
00:11In Port Hedland on the state's Pilbara coast, red dirt runs gold.
00:16The work here is hard, it's tough, it's skilled, and it's fundamental to our national economy.
00:22Miner BHP makes $120 million a day here from iron ore exports.
00:28The WA taxpayers' cut is almost $7 million.
00:33Unions are planning the most expensive barbecue in WA's history.
00:38They're sending a signal to the world that the Pilbara is no longer a safe place to invest.
00:43The landmark eight-hour strike comes after months of tense negotiations for a new pay deal.
00:49BHP's breaking the promise of being good money for good hard work.
00:53The Pilbara's resource workers earn on average $190,000 a year.
00:59The miners offer a 16% increase over four years.
01:03This is the Pilbara's most significant strike in more than two decades.
01:08And miners across the region are watching it closely.
01:12Should it succeed, it could set a precedent and send union numbers soaring.
01:17High visibility support from union colleagues across the country in Brisbane and Melbourne.
01:23What do we do when we're under attack?
01:24Stand up, fight back!
01:26In a statement, the miner says it's disappointing and it remains committed to bargaining in good faith,
01:31with plans in place to ensure operations can safely continue.
01:35Amid the turmoil, BHP recorded its highest ever production of iron ore and greenlit a billion dollar mine extension.
01:43Will there be more scribes?
01:44I'm not going to rule it out.
01:46A high-stakes industrial dispute with no end in sight.
01:50Are you going, can you take your money money to get stuck?
01:50It'll be definitely a starting contract with no end in sight.
01:50So after you're on a betting company, there'll be no end in the enlightenment.
01:52In other spots where you're going, get the efficiency of the people we have personally
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