BHP's Escondida mine supervisors say collective contract deal far off
SANTIAGO - Unionized supervisors at BHP's Escondida copper mine in Chile remain far from reaching a new collective contract agreement as time quickly runs out before a mandatory mediation period is set to begin, union leader Alexis Barrera said on Tuesday.
The company has until Wednesday to submit an offer for workers to vote on.
If workers reject the company's offer, a mandatory government mediation process of at least five days will commence.
The mediation process can then be extended for another five days if no deal is reached, before workers are legally allowed to strike.
According to union calculations, the company's latest proposal offers little beyond what the current collective contract already provides in terms of salary and benefits, Barrera said.
The union has rejected a company demand that supervisors train for plant operations — including driving trucks — arguing those roles belong to floor staff.
Escondida management is seeking a 14-days-on, 14-days-off shift rotation, which Barrera said the union will not accept.
"We are very far apart. We are still far from having an agreement," Barrera said in a union statement.
"Our people fully trust the board and if a strike vote is needed, it will surely succeed," Barrera added.
