Chile Codelco headed for possible strike at Gabriela Mistral

Investing News reported that union leaders at Chilean state-miner Codelco’s Gabriela Mistral mine have voted against a new labor agreement at the company’s sixth-largest mine, with strike action looming. As reported by Reuters on January 22, an offer made during negotiations over bonuses has been voted down. Ana Catalan, union president said that “We have rejected their proposal and have voted to strike.” Gabriela Mistral, located in Sierra Gorda has been operational since 2008, and in 2017 produced 122,737 tonnes of copper well behind Codelco’s largest mine, El Teniente, which produced 464,328 tonnes in the same year. According to Reuters, members of the union at Gabriela Mistral want higher bonuses, and have been discussing differences in bonuses between different unions at Codelco’s mines. Codelco is yet to respond to news that the union has voted to strike; under Chilean law, government mediation must take place over five days before workers are legally allowed to down their tools. Codelco has been busy negotiating with unions over the past few months; in early December it struck a deal with workers at its Ministro Hales mine — Codelco’s newest operation, and the next mine up Codelco’s list of producing assets in regards to output.