Australian union backs class action against BHP over public holiday work

BHP

10/09/2026 10:08

Sept 10 (Reuters) - An Australian mining union is funding a class action against BHP BHP.AX that could cover up to 7,000 workers employed by the miner's labour hire subsidiaries. 
The Mining and Energy Union said on Thursday the class action is in pursuit of compensation for mineworkers who were unlawfully required to work on Christmas and Boxing Day holidays at Daunia mine in Central Queensland in 2019.
The suit could "deliver millions in compensation if successful," the union said in a statement. 
A federal court had ruled earlier that BHP's Operations Services breached the National Employment Standards in its rostering of workers over that time. 
MEU General President Grahame Kelly said the union may pursue further class actions on behalf of other cohorts of mineworkers who were unlawfully required to work public holidays.
BHP did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Shares of the mining firm closed down 1.8% at A$63.44 earlier in the day.

 (Reporting by Shivangi Lahiri in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)
 ((Shivangi.Lahiri@thomsonreuters.com;))