IO Workplace Agreements

Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ld
8 June 2000


BHP IRON ORE WELCOMES RULING ON WORKPLACE AGREEMENTS

BHP Iron Ore today welcomed the Federal Court's decision preventing  unions
from taking industrial action at its Pilbara, Western Australian, iron ore
operations until the outcome of the main Court trial which commences on 27
June 2000.

The trial will determine whether or not BHP has acted illegally in making the
offer of individual contracts to its Pilbara workforce.

BHP Iron Ore President Graeme Hunt said the Company firmly believed that the
individual contracts offered were lawful and was confident this would be the
finding of the courts when the full trial of the matter is heard.

On 16 March, BHP Iron Ore offered about 500 employees remaining on its State
award a collective agreement which provided identical terms and conditions to
those enjoyed by the 481 employees who had signed individual contracts before
a temporary Federal court injunction prevented the Company from continuing the
offer until the outcome of the court trial..  

The unions have rejected BHP's offer of a collective system as an alternative
to individual contracts. 

'It's  the 'same deal for the same pay', with the terms and conditions
mirroring those of individual contracts,' Mr Hunt said. 'We are committed to
ensuring all Iron Ore employees adopt the new work practices and behaviours
demonstrated by those who have signed workplace agreements, whether that is
through an individual contract or, as proposed, under a collective agreement.'

About half  BHP Iron Ore's  workforce have accepted the new workplace
agreements which effectively brings them under a system of employment enjoyed
by 600 'staff' employees. 

Mr Hunt said BHP Iron Ore is resolved to continue down the path of  improving
its iron ore business in Western Australia.

'We are particularly encouraged by examples of changed attitudes, behaviours
and work practices by many of our employees who have signed individual
contracts. In some areas productivity has increased by over 20 per cent in the
past six months.'


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