CHILE: Miners strike halt output at world's second largest copper mine

Record ID: 338771

  • Title: CHILE: Miners strike halt output at world's second largest copper mine
  • Date: 5th January 2010
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF WORKERS ON STRIKE MEETING TOGETHER WORKERS WITH BLACK FLAGS VARIOUS OF WORKER ON STRIKE WAIVING THE CHILEAN FLAG
  • Embargoed: 20th January 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Chile
  • Country: Chile
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAT10UJ1MAHNBA1LGDOLHSCJH8
  • Story Text: Workers at Chile's Chuquicamata mine, the second biggest copper complex in the world, began a strike over wages on Monday (January 4), hitting output from the globe's largest producer Codelco and boosting prices for the red metal.
    Officials from state-owned Codelco and union leaders have said they are willing to resume negotiations which could lead to a quick resolution to the strike, but union leader Armando Silva warned that if workers did not get at least some of their demands the strike could stretch out.
    "If the management is willing to put some of our workers' desirable items on the table I think we could overcome this, but if not, this will be long," said Silva.
    Codelco sources have estimated the Chuquicamata complex in far northern Chile, which includes the Chuquicamata and Mina Sur deposits and produces around 4 percent of the world's mined copper, will lose up to 1,800 tonnes (1,980 tons) of copper output per day and cost the state around $8 million a day in lost revenue.
    Codelco employee Cristian Delgado told Reuters that the government needed to step in order to solve the problem.
    "The Codelco management needs an order from higher up and this order needs to come from the government. If not, this problem will not be solved and we will not budge," said Delgado.
    Striking Codelco employees held signs and waved black flags as they demanded the wage increase.
    Codelco officials have said they were prepared for the strike and would be able to make deliveries, although it was unclear how long supplies would last.
    "We are available, there is willingness; deposits and a mining complex like Chuquicamata and Codelco North, cannot allow for an indefinite strike. We must join forces, willingness and find a solution that will satisfy the workers, the management, and the country," said Codelco Human Resources Manager, Humberto Fernandois.
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