Chile Spence Copper Mine Workers Vote In Favor Of Strike
September 30 2009 - 11:23PM
Dow Jones News
Unionized workers at BHP Billiton Ltd.'s (BHP) Spence copper
mine in Chile unanimoulsy voted in favor of going on strike next
week if government mediation fails, a union leader said late
Wednesday.
Of the 560 union members at the mine, 523 cast their votes
between Monday and Wednesday and all 523 voted for the strike,
union spokesman Francisco Aravena said.
Following local labor laws, either the union or mine management
can now seek a five-day, government-supervised mediation
period.
"The company already told us they'd be seeking the mediation,"
Aravena said, adding the strike could only begin Oct. 8 after
mediation has failed.
Local laws allow for a second five-day mediation period but only
if both parties request it. BHP representatives weren't immediately
available for comment.
-By Carolina Pica, Dow Jones Newswires; 56-2-820-4244;
carolina.pica@dowjones.com