BHP Australia coal miners hold third day of strikes before starting talks

More than 1,000 workers at two BHP Billiton coking coal mines in Australia staged a third day of strikes in a dispute that is disrupting production from the world’s largest exporter of the steelmaking commodity.

Analysts believe the industrial action, added to the 15% cut in annual production caused by monsoon rains and a cyclone, will support rampant prices for steel-making coal which hit an all-time high in April of $330 per tonne. Metallurgical coal accounts for A$24.5bn of the Australia’s A$202.17bn in total annual goods exports.

Bloomberg reports:

Six-hour rolling stoppages are in place at the Goonyella Riverside and Peak Downs mines owned by BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, Stephen Smyth, president of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union’s mining and energy division in Queensland, said by telephone today. The stoppages complete strike action involving about 3,500 workers at sites owned by BMA.