The copper market recently was rattled due to a potential union strike at the world’s largest mine at Escondida in Chile. There are fears another strike at this mine may come on the heels of last year’s strike, which resulted in the longest mining strike in Chile’s modern history. There are hopes a strike will be avoided this go-round, although talks with the union could take a month or more.
“The company hopes ... to reach a mutually beneficial agreement, and to touch on issues like the bonus and salary increases ...,” BHP Global mine said in a statement.