Workers have walked off the job at Glencore’s Townsville copper refinery this morning after what union representatives dismiss as a ‘disgraceful’ pay offer from the mining giant.

The stoppage is due to run from 6am to 10am, and Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) Northern District secretary Jim Wilson says about 50 workers are involved.

The industrial action involves members of the AWU, CFMEU (Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union) and ETU (Electrical Trades Union). It follows a bargaining meeting yesterday which failed to resolve the unions’ issues.

ETU state organiser Liam Sharkey said this was the start of an industrial campaign which would continue until Glencore came to the table with a fair and reasonable wage increase that met the cost-of-living pressures their workers were facing.

“The industrial action is not taken lightly. It’s something that’s taken at the last resort,” he said.

“Our members have been pretty patient with Glencore since February 2025 when this all began. Obviously the uncertain times of the company was taken into consideration while the negotiations were continuing and our unions actually were supporting Glencore in getting some help from the government to keep the operation running.”

The ETU said that despite receiving a $600 million taxpayer-funded bailout to keep the refinery and Mount Isa copper smelter operating, Glencore had refused to offer workers a fair wage outcome.

“We’ve continued to provide evidence time and time again on how far behind they are, especially with the electrical industry,” Mr Sharkey said.

“I mean, we’ve got electricians that have been offered 30 per cent below what the going rate is in the local area for an electrician currently, and then they wonder why they have so many vacancies and they can’t keep people.”

Glencore this week said it was disappointed that the unions were intending to take industrial action.

“Glencore has tabled a competitive package which includes a salary increase over four years and we will continue to negotiate in good faith to get an agreement,” a Glencore spokesman said.

The company has stated that even with the $600 million government support announced last year, the Mount Isa copper smelter and Townsville copper refinery continue to lose money due to the continued decline of treatment and refining charges and shortage of available copper concentrates.