UPDATE:Chile Collahuasi Mine Still Closed Due To Strike
May 11 2010 - 1:48PM
Dow Jones News
The Collahuasi copper mine, located in northern Chile, remains
closed due to a contract workers' strike, the company said
Tuesday.
On Friday, contract workers from several mining service
providers went on strike seeking better working conditions and
wages.
They blocked the access road to the mining compound, located
some 4,500 meters above sea level in the Andes mountains.
"To [maintain] people's safety, Collahuasi has suspended
production and is asking the contracting companies to intervene
with their workers," the company said in a statement.
The striking workers have blockaded the mining compound, leaving
some 4,000 workers, including 1,000 Collahuasi staff workers,
stranded inside the complex with limited access to food and water,
Collahuasi said.
This strike is considered illegal as the workers aren't in the
process of negotiating new contracts. According to Chilean labor
laws, workers can strike during the collective-bargaining
process.
The local mining industry is concerned the contract worker
unrest could spread to other mining companies in light of high
international copper prices and the strong earnings mining
companies are expected to post this year.
The companies, represented by the National Mining Society, or
Sonami, trade group are also worried about the precedent of holding
non-striking workers against their will inside the mining
compound.
"As legitimate as the [workers'] demands may be, this can't
contemplate infringing on the rights of other workers, nor impede
their returning to their homes following their workday," said
Sonami president Alberto Salas.
The Sonami represents most of the medium-sized and large mining
companies in the country as well as several mining suppliers.
Collahuasi produces about 500,000 tons of copper a year, or
about 10% of Chile's output.
Diversified mining companies Xstrata PLC (XTA.LN) and Anglo
American PLC (AAL.LN, AAUKY) each own a 44% stake in the mine, with
the rest held by a consortium led by Mitsui & Co. (MITSY,
8031.TO).
-By Carolina Pica, Dow Jones Newswires; 56-2-715-8919;
carolina.pica@dowjones.com
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