The Australian Workers' Union had applied to industry umpire Fair Work Australia last week for a protected action ballot as part of its ongoing enterprise agreement negotiations with the company.

Port Kembla branch secretary Wayne Phillips said the union had not sent a copy of its application to the Australian Electoral Commission within the required timeframe, meaning it was withdrawn. A new application had been lodged and the "technical hitch" was unlikely to delay a ballot, he said.

BlueScope workers need to vote in a protected action ballot for strike action to be legal.

Mr Phillips has attacked BlueScope Steel in recent weeks over proposed changes to the former industrial agreement which he said would lead to cuts in sick leave and job security for workers.

He maintained the tough talk yesterday ahead of an anticipated FWA hearing this week.

"As far as the protected action ballot itself, that won't delay it at all," he said.

"We will have the stamp to go ahead at the absolute latest Wednesday this week, wait for the electoral commission to conduct the ballot ... and then the ballot gets up and we get into industrial action with the company."

Mr Phillips said the "only thing" to prevent such an outcome would be if BlueScope and the union agreed next week that disputes under the new agreement should be settled through the NSW Industrial Relations Commission, rather than FWA.

"My members have made it pretty clear to me they are pretty keen to give the company a bit of a whack; they've had enough, and the only way you can do that is through Fair Work protected action," he said.

BlueScope Steel has repeatedly refused to comment on industrial relations matters.

Mr Phillips said further talks between the parties took place yesterday without progress. The union plans to call a mass meeting of steelworkers late next week.