Business · Companies · 1 day ago
Worsley Alumina workers plan 12-hour strike amid sale to Alcoa
Workers at South32’s Worsley Alumina mine plan a 12-hour strike next week during a scheduled shutdown.
The operation is near Boddington in Western Australia, and the planned action involves members of the Electrical Trades Union and the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union.
The unions want pay and conditions protected as Alcoa prepares to buy the mine as part of a deal for South32’s aluminium assets announced in July.
The sale is expected to be completed in the first half of next year.
A key dispute is whether workers’ short-term incentive payments will be guaranteed in their workplace agreement; South32 says its existing incentive policy will continue after the sale.
Union members also point to differences in working hours between Worsley and Alcoa operations.
The strike is intended to press for a fair agreement before the ownership change, while South32 says it has plans to support ongoing operations during the action.
Workers at South32’s Worsley Alumina operation in Western Australia plan to stop work for 12 hours on Tuesday next week.
The protected industrial action is set to coincide with a scheduled shutdown.
Union members are seeking certainty over wages and conditions as South32 prepares to sell its aluminium assets, including Worsley, to Alcoa.
The unions say the main sticking point in bargaining is whether short-term incentive payments will be guaranteed in the enterprise agreement.
South32 says its existing short-term incentive policy will continue after the transaction and that it is engaging with workers and their representatives.
- Who
- Workers represented by the Electrical Trades Union and the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union.
- What
- They plan a 12-hour strike as they seek an agreement on wages and conditions.
- When
- Tuesday next week, according to the article published on November 8, 2026.
- Where
- South32’s Worsley Alumina operation in Western Australia, near Boddington.
- Why
- Union members want certainty over wages and conditions ahead of the proposed sale to Alcoa, including protection for short-term incentive payments.
Worsley Alumina unions
South32
Short-term incentives
Worsley Alumina unions
The AMWU says workers want the payments, which have averaged 10 per cent over five years, secured in their enterprise agreement.
South32
South32 says its existing short-term incentive policy will continue after the transaction.
Working hours
Worsley Alumina unions
The ETU says South32 Worsley workers work longer hours than Alcoa workers doing comparable work and wants a fair agreement.
South32
South32 says it is focused on reaching an agreement that supports employees and the operation’s ongoing sustainability.
Alcoa announced it would purchase South32’s aluminium assets, including its interest in Worsley Alumina.
Worsley workers are due to take 12 hours of protected industrial action during a scheduled shutdown.
The proposed sale is expected to be finalised.
- Planned strike
- 12 hours on Tuesday next week
- Worsley location
- Near Boddington, Western Australia
- AMWU members at South32
- Around 200
- Average worker bonus
- 10 per cent over the past five years
- South32 interest in Worsley
- 86 per cent
- Expected sale completion
- First half of next year
What people are saying
This isn’t about asking for more money. It’s about making sure workers don’t lose money they’ve consistently earned.
The existing short-term incentive policy will continue following completion of the transaction.
That is a significant difference in working time for people performing comparable work.
Workers on shift and day-work patterns at Alcoa have a 36-hour working week, while at South32 Worsley, shift workers work a 42-hour week and day workers work 40 hours across four 10-hour days.