Workers at Antofagasta's Zaldivar and Centinela copper mines in Chile have successively voted to take industrial action after the negotiations for labor contract renewals failed, Fastmarkets understands.
Over 94% of union members at Centinela voted for a suspension if a usual 5-10 day mandatory government-led mediation does not go anywhere.
Last week, union member representatives at Antofagasta's Zaldivar mine voted to strike on July 15, pending government-led mediation.
In July 2017, a 36-month long labor contract between Antofagasta-operated Zald?-var copper mine and its workers was reached with the expiration date on July 20, 2020.
The deal was reached during the second round of government-mediated talks between the parties and put an end to a strike threat at the mine.
The mine is focused on the...