The Hedland Port Union has submitted a counter-proposal on the wage agreement to BHP (BHP.US), with negotiations scheduled for September 8.

According to reports from Zhihui Finance APP, the BHP (BHP.US) port union stated on Tuesday that workers at the Port Hedland operations base in Western Australia have previously rejected a compensation proposal put forward by BHP. The union has now submitted a counterproposal to pave the way for the next round of negotiations scheduled for September 8.

A BHP spokesperson stated in an emailed statement: “We are continuously making progress toward reaching an agreement, which will focus on addressing the key concerns of our employees.”

The union noted that the original BHP proposal, rejected by workers prior to the meeting, “would have exacerbated existing inequalities among employees,” adding that they have scheduled meetings with the Fair Work Commission of Australia on September 15.

It is understood that BHP has been negotiating with the union representing approximately 450 operators and maintenance workers for several months regarding a new wage agreement. Currently, BHP employs over 800 staff at Port Hedland.

The union stated that workers are demanding binding guarantees on wages and working conditions. The workers believe that, given the realities of extreme heat, long working hours, and extended periods away from their families, their compensation should not be lower than that of urban workers.