On Dec. 9, union workers at Chile’s Chuquicamata copper mine
walked out, protesting proposed wage and benefit cuts by state-run Codelco, the
world’s largest copper producer. Negotiations over a new contract, stalled on
Dec. 8, after Codelco bosses proposed significant cuts in pay, benefits and
vacation time for new workers.
Bloomberg News reported the following day that the workers
had ended their blockade of the mine and will restart negotiations with
management after the company withdrew its proposal. “This is a very good result
for us,” said union spokesman Luis Callejas.
The workers are demanding a 7.5 percent pay hike in addition
to health and educational benefits.
Codelco has benefited from soaring copper prices, up some 125 percent
this year. Mine workers across Chile have been taking action to command more of
the value that they produce. Last month, workers at a BHP Billiton Ltd. mine
won wage increases after a 42-day strike.
