Strike action may spoil Sydney's Oprah party

Oprah Winfrey and a group of her American guests wowed Sydneysiders when they climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge yesterday.

But industrial action threatens to toss a spanner in the works during the taping of her TV show tomorrow.

Winfrey and 270 of her entourage, some in Australian T-shirts or in an Australian flag headband, made the climb - believed to be the largest number of climbers on the bridge at one time.

The bridge was lit up with a big "O" on Saturday night in her honour.

As the guests descended, clapping and waving, one woman called out: "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie," to which the crowd below responded "Oi, Oi, Oi."

"Thank you, Australia!" she screamed, to which a man called out, "Thank you for bringing Oprah", the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Oprah is due to take a cruise to Rose Bay today, as maritime workers meet to decide on a 24-hour strike which they say will disrupt filming of The Oprah Winfrey Show at the Sydney Opera House tomorrow.

The Maritime Union of Australia says it will be a last resort but if action over a wage dispute goes ahead, workers will not deploy the buoys necessary to ensure the exclusion zone at the Opera House remains in place during the filming of the show, the SMH reported.

- with AAP