Hundreds of Australian Workers Union members massed outside the northern entrance to the steelworks yesterday for their first stoppage in what many members believe will be a long industrial campaign.

The mood at the end of the protected four-hour strike was subdued, but workers were clearly angry about what they see as an unnecessary attack on hard-fought working conditions.

"[Workers] are not very happy because the conditions we've got, it took us a long time to get them," steelworker and AWU delegate Steven Dragun said.

"From where I am they want to cut 16 people and then we've bloody got this on top of it.

"With the management we've got I don't think we're going to get a decision any time soon, because they've allowed it to get to this stage."

Talks with the company over a new enterprise agreement began in February but have now stalled.

The AWU has notified BlueScope of a further two-hour stoppage on Friday, plus an impending ban on overtime, while other steelworkers' unions staged a protest at the company's Springhill site last month.

Workers yesterday described the mood inside BlueScope as "angry" and "miserable".

Slab handler Glenn Leake said the stoush was about conditions, not money.

"It's all about keeping the conditions we have got and working forward with the company for a sustainable future," he said.

"Our conditions have been hard fought and won and... we haven't put any extra claims that will cost the company any money."

The AWU wants departmental agreements to continue to be recognised in the new award.

Port Kembla branch secretary Wayne Phillips said the union also wanted to preserve existing sick leave entitlements that meant workers on extended sick leave were paid at the average of their last six months' pay.

BlueScope's push to cut that to their base rate would mean a big decrease for a minority of workers, he said.

Mr Phillips said workers on 12-hour shifts should also be allowed three breaks to manage fatigue.

"The company has said trust us, we'll let them have that, but we want it in the award," he said.

Mr Leake said two breaks during a 12-hour shift posed a potential safety risk.

The AWU called off its first stoppage last week after BlueScope sought an injunction against any action that could lead to the dumping of metal.

The company's offer includes wage increases of 3 per cent in the first year, and 2.5 per cent for the next two years.

The AWU wants a 3 per cent rise in the first and third year.

BlueScope declined to comment.