Peru’s mining industry hit by first nationwide strike in four years

Unionized workers at several Peruvian mines will down tools Thursday for 48 hours to show the government their disapproval of a decree that modifies pension payments.

According to local newspaper Gestión (in Spanish), workers from Southern Copper (NYSE:SCCO), Shougang and Buena Ventura all have confirmed they will take part in the nationwide strike, set to begin at midnight.

Freeport-McMoRan’s (NYSE:FCX) Cerro Verde mine’s workers are currently in a meeting to decide whether to join the walkout or not.

This is the first nationwide strike affecting Peru’s mining sector in four years.

The country is the world’s second biggest producer of copper and silver and a major producer of gold, zinc, lead and other minerals.

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