By Stephen Bell
PERTH, Australia--Tugboat workers at Australia's biggest
iron-ore port have voted to take industrial action, including work
stoppages, raising the prospect of disruptions to exports of the
steelmaking ingredient by BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) and several other
mining companies.
Maritime Union of Australia deckhands in Port Hedland backed the
move--the latest in the 12-month dispute--after failing to
negotiate new pay and conditions with Teekay Shipping, a contractor
that runs tugboats on behalf of BHP and the other port exporters,
the MUA said in a statement Thursday.
Members endorsed an unlimited number of two-hour and four-hour
stop-work meetings and unlimited work stoppages of 6 hours and 12
hours, the MUA said.
Industrial action was considered a last resort, but workers were
frustrated that negotiations were not progressing, said Will
Tracey, MUA Assistant Secretary of the Western Australia state
branch.
Write to Stephen Bell at stephen.bell@wsj.com