New Pact Avoids Strike Action at Collahuasi Copper Mine

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The labour union and management at Chile’s Collahuasi copper mine have reached an agreement on a new deal, thus averting the possibilities of a possible strike action by the union. The deal would be made public ahead of the October 30^th deadline for negotiations. The newly agreed contract would come into effect from 1^st November, 2020.

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The recent rally in copper prices has been mainly attributed to the uncertainties over the new deal at the mine, run by Glencore and Anglo American in partnership with Japanese firms. The outcome of the deal is considered to have significant impacts on other mine operations in the country, not only due to the mine’s share to the country’s total mine output, but also due to the large size of the union. Incidentally, Collahuasi mine, in the north of Chile in the Tarapaca region, had recorded total copper production of 565,400 tonnes during the previous year.

Recently, members of the Mine Workers Union at Candelaria copper-gold-silver mine had decided to go on strike, after mediations between the management and union ended without reaching an agreement. Also, the supervisors at Chile’s Escondida mine are likely to announce strike action, after 98% of its members rejected the latest wage offer put forward by BHP Group.