6th Aug 2014 09:32
LONDON (Alliance News) - BHP Billiton PLC's iron ore exports could be set to slow, after tug boat engineers at Australia's biggest iron ore port announced plans on to stop work for four hours on August 9, 11 and 13 over a pay dispute.
The strike by the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers at Port Hedland continues a dispute with Teekay Shipping, a part of Teekay Corp, which moves a quarter of the world's seaborne iron ore and more than half of Australia's iron exports.
However, BHP said on Wednesday that it would take steps to stop the industrial action as they believed the union had missed a deadline to file notice of a work stoppage.
"BHP Billiton believes the proposed action by the AIMPE is unlawful given it falls outside the Protected Action Ballot Order and the company intends to pursue all options available to prevent it," BHP said in a statement.
"Any industrial action has the potential to cost our business, and the local and national economy, millions of dollars and the interruption of shipments of iron ore would have a detrimental impact on Australia?s international reputation as a stable and reliable supplier of critical resources," BHP added.
Tug boat captains, engineers and deck hands have called for higher pay and more leave after a one-third increase in iron ore shipments through Port Hedland over the past year.
BHP Billiton shares were down 0.6% to 2,002.50 pence on Wednesday.
By Tom McIvor; [email protected]; @TomMcIvor1
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