Chile: Striking contract workers block mine access
April 18, 2008 6:23 PM ET
SANTIAGO,Chile
(AP) - Striking contract workers at Chile's copper giant Codelco stepped
up their protests Friday, blocking access to mines and attacking buses
carrying miners.
Codelco said in a communique that its two smaller
mines, Salvador in northern Chile and Andina just north of Santiago,
remain closed by the strike, which entered its third day Friday.
The state-run company said production has not been affected at its two main mines and a large refinery.
Some28,000 contract workers are hired by private companies to perform services for
Codelco such as maintenance, catering, security and transportation. Few
work directly in mining.
Miners at El Teniente, Codelco's second largest mine, were not able to enter the mine Friday because of
demonstrations. Shifts have been extending there recently to assure production continues.
El Teniente accounts for around a quarter of Chile's total copper output of 1.8 million tons.
"Barricades were erected during the night and a cistern truck was thrown down a cliff," Codelco said in a communique.
The contract workers went on strike Wednesday, claiming the company hasfailed to
fulfill accords that ended a month long strike last year. Codelco insists
it has fulfilled those promises of better working conditions, cash
bonuses and programs for health, housing and education.