Strike brews at BHP Billiton copper mine
Escondida mine workers vote against wage offer
Santiago/Melbourne — Workers at BHP Billiton’s Escondida copper mine in Chile have voted against the company’s latest wage offer, opening the door for a strike and potentially heralding a wave of stoppages at global suppliers after a rally. Prices rose to more than $6,000 a tonne in London. About 99% of members voted in favour of a strike that could start on Monday, according to a statement from Union Number 1.. Its 2,492 members represent about 95% of Escondida’s workers. The project is the world’s largest copper mine and is forecast to produce about 1.1-million tonnes in the 12 months to June 30, according to BHP. Copper has surged to the highest since 2015 as demand recovered and investors anticipated higher infrastructure spending from Donald Trump’s new administration. Citigroup has warned of the increased risk of strikes in 2017, as workers seek pay rises, with almost a fifth of global mine capacity facing contract renewals. While there was still time for an 11th-hour agreemen...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.