11 August, 2011Miners have ended a two-week strike after accepting the company's offer of a US $5,600 bonus.
CHILE: Workers at the BHP Billiton-controlled Escondida mine ended a two-week strike at the end of last week and gradually resumed work. The mine is now operating normally.
The strike ended after 65 per cent of the approximately 2,000 workers on strike voted to accept the company's proposal for a US $5,600 bonus, in addition to safety improvements.
Other issues raised by the union are being addressed at the negotiating table. "The working and social welfare conditions that we were demanding in the first place and which were the main reason for the strike are all being negotiated, with a 30-day deadline for reaching agreement, and that is very important", said Roberto Arriagada, President of Escondida No.1 Union.
The National Council of Chilean IMF affiliates expressed its support for the struggle of the Escondida miners.