Chile Spence Copper Mine Strike Continues Into 16th Day
28 Oktober 2009 - 4:50PM
Dow Jones News
The labor strike at Chilean copper mine Spence, owned by
diversified miner BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP), continued into its 16th
day Wednesday with no new talks scheduled, a union leader said.
The 560 unionized workers at the mine went on strike on Oct. 13
after voting against the company's wage and benefits renewal offer.
Contracts expired on Sept. 30.
According to local labor laws, striking workers can break away
from the walkout on the 15th strike day, but union leader Daniel
Ibacache said no union members had returned to their posts.
"We're standing strong and not going back to work," he said.
The Spence mine, located near Calama, produced 165,000 tons of
copper last year, or about 3% of the country's total output. Chile
itself produces about 35% of the world's copper.
At the start of the strike, the mine halted ore extraction
operations to safeguard its non-striking workers and its equipment
but has continued to operate certain industrial processes at a
minimal pace.
In Chile, BHP also owns and operates the Cerro Colorado and
Escondida copper mines. BHP officials weren't immediately available
to comment.
- By Carolina Pica, Dow Jones Newswires; 56-2-820-4244;
carolina.pica@dowjones.com