BHP has been slammed for recommending the Fair Work Act be changed to limit the scope of strike action.

BHP Billiton wants strike action to become a last resort.

The company’s recent submission to the Productivity Commission called for changes that it says would allow employers and employees to work more productively and competitively, for the benefit of the Australian economy.

Reports say that the mining giant recommended to the Productivity Commission’s Workplace Relations inquiry that the Fair Work Act be revised to limit the use of work bans and strikes, with BHP’s coal boss Mike Henry complaining that industrial action affects mining productivity.

BHP Billiton’s requests claim the Act should be ‘truly supporting’ of an employee’s choice of representation - enabling non-union and union streams of enterprise bargaining to have equal representation.

But the CFMEU has slammed the mining giant’s wish list.

CFMEU Mining and Energy Queensland President Steve Smyth said there was an easy fix if BHP was serious about limiting industrial action in its coal mining operations; stop attacking workers.

“BHP coal mines are producing record amounts of coal because of a good union agreement that facilitates improved productivity,” said Mr Smyth.

“Yet BHP continues to attack hard-fought work rights and conditions in its coal mines. If BHP wants a better relationship with its workforce it won’t get there through changing the law to limit industrial action.

“It will get there by being a better employer and corporate citizen.”

The CFMEU has released its own list of demands to BHP and other large employers.

The union says companies like BHP should: stop trying to drive down wages; stop trying to wind back mine safety; stop discriminating against local workers; and bargain in good faith

“Coal mineworkers have aggressive, powerful employers in companies like BHP. They need avenues to take a stand for their rights, conditions and safety,” said Mr Smyth.

“BHP should stop attacking workers’ reasonable rights to take industrial action and start focusing on being a better employer and corporate citizen.”