BHP, Spence workers to extend talks for two days – union

BHP Spence copper operation. Image: Consejo Minero

Workers at BHP Group’s Spence copper mine in Chile said on Wednesday they will extend negotiations with the company for a few more days to try and reach agreement on a new contract and avoid a strike at the operation, the union told Reuters.

The union representing 1,100 workers at the mine in Chile’s northern Atacama Desert said it hoped to reach agreement by the end of Thursday.

Workers for BHP’s Escondida and Spence copper mines walked off the job last month after efforts to ink a labor contract deal with the company’s management fell through, fueling uncertainty over the global supply of the red metal.

The sprawling Escondida produced 1.19 million tonnes of copper in 2020, while Spence produced 146,700 tonnes of Chile’s total 5.7 million tonnes. aluminum.

(With files from Reuters)