Workers at World's Biggest Copper Mine Prepare for Strike
08 February 2017 - 12:28PM
Dow Jones News
By Ryan Dube and Rhiannon Hoyle
Workers at Chile's Escondida mine, the world's largest
copper-mining operation, are expected to strike on Thursday after
unsuccessful talks between union officials and management, led by
BHP Billiton Ltd., the mine's largest union said.
On Tuesday, union officials at Escondida said they were no
closer to a deal with BHP Billiton's majority-owned Minera
Escondida, which it accused of being "very rigid" in negotiations
over wages and benefits for workers at the mine.
"The position the company has taken doesn't allow us to see a
solution to the conflict," the mine's largest union, Union No. 1,
said in a statement. "The union and its more than 2,500 workers
will continue with its contingency plan to start the strike on
Thursday."
The Escondida mine in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile
accounts for roughly 5% of global output. BHP manages the operation
and holds a roughly 58% stake. Other investors include Rio Tinto
PLC and Japan's Mitsubishi Corp.
Expectations of a possible strike at the mine have helped push
copper prices higher this year. The mine will stop producing copper
if workers strike, Minera Escondida said in a statement.
Write to Ryan Dube at ryan.dube@wsj.com and Rhiannon Hoyle at
rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 07, 2017 20:13 ET (01:13 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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