BHP averts strike at world’s largest copper mine with preliminary union deal

Global miner BHP reached a preliminary deal with the supervisors’ union at its Escondida mine in Chile, avoiding a strike at the world’s largest copper deposit, the company announced late on Wednesday.

In late September, the union’s members rejected a proposal from the company, prompting government mediation to avoid a work stoppage.

“It was agreed to extend the mediation for an additional day in order to finalise and sign a new collective bargaining agreement once it has been ratified by its members,” BHP said in a statement on Wednesday night.

“The company continues to operate normally,” it added.

In 2022, Escondida produced 1.05 million metric tons of copper.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Fabián Andrés Cambero, Writing by Natalia Siniawski; Editing by Sharon Singleton)