WMC face heavy staff losses

As BHP Billiton takes formal control of WMC Resources, it is likely that only 1 in 15 of WMC's white collar workers will be retained.

However, former WMC Resources chief executive officer Hugh Morgan warns, "The best proposal is to get the best people from both companies to do the jobs that are needed."

Nearly all WMC white collar positions are duplicated at BHP.