UPDATE:Chile Collahuasi Copper Output Normal;Strike In 4th Day

Copper output at Chilean copper mine Dona Ines de Collahuasi remains normal as a labor strike at the mine enters its fourth day, a company spokeswoman said Monday.

The 1,551 unionized employees at the mine went on strike early Friday after government-mediated talks fell through.

"Production remains normal as a result of our contingency plan," the spokeswoman said. The company last week declined to provide details of this plan, citing strategic reasons.

Striking workers were scheduled to hold a march through the streets of the city of Iquique later Monday, a union leader said.

"We expect 1,400 workers and their families to march today," the union leader said on condition of anonimity.

Both the spokeswoman and the union leader said neither side had reached out to renew talks.

The union, which represents about 90% of union eligible employees, seeks a 10% increase and improved social benefits.

The company offered a 2%-3% real increase, depending on the salary, and a signing bonus, which includes an interest-free loan, of about $27,000 per worker.

"We stand by our offer as we consider it very generous," the spokeswoman said.

Workers, meanwhile, seek to obtain their share of better global copper market conditions.

The mine is owned by diversified mining companies Xstrata PLC (XTA.LN) and Anglo American PLC (AAUKY, AAL.LN), each with a 44% stake. A consortium led by Mitsui & Co. (MITSY, 8031.TO) holds the remaining 12%.

Collahuasi is located in Chile's northernmost First Region. It's 185 kilometers southeast of the port of Iquique, at 4,400 meters above sea level high in the Andes.

It produces about 500,000 metric tons of copper a year, or about 10% of Chile's annual output. Chile is the world's leading copper producer, accounting for about 35% of global output.

-By Carolina Pica, Dow Jones Newswires; 56-2-715-8919; carolina.pica@dowjones.com

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