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The government of Chile called the workers and Minera Escondida – engaged in a conflict that could lead to a strike in the largest copper mine in the world – to dialogue and reach an agreement in the collective bargaining process.
An agreement must be reached for the good of the Chilean economy, Finance Minister Felipe Larraín told local media.
"We hope as always in these processes that an agreement is reached, that the parties, through dialogue, negotiation and conversation, reach an agreement for the interest of them- same, but also in the interest of the country ". said Larraín.
He added that it is a "time-consuming" negotiation, and insisted that the bodies should be open to reaching an agreement between the workers and the the society.
Discordances
The possibility of an Australian-controlled miner's strike BHP Billiton occurred the day before, when the 2,500-strong union dismissed the latest offer as inadequate of the company, this excludes a salary increase and involves bonds and a loan for a total of 15.5 million pesos per worker (approximately $ 23,900).
It also includes improvements to existing benefits and requires a union response by July 17 at the latest. that the new collective agreement be signed this month.
The union demands an obligation equivalent to 4.0% of the dividends paid by Escondida in 2017 to its shareholders, ie approximately 25.9 million pesos (approximately $ 39,850) per worker, and a salary increase by 5%
The company and the union have until July 24 to reach an agreement and avoid a strike like the one that took place in the first quarter of 2017, which lasted 44 days and was waived without agreement, due to the union's decision to extend the previous collective agreement for 18 months.
Carlos Allendes spokesman for the union, said Saturday that the company would not listen to the workers and that it was planning to impose a misleading proposal and with "a gun in the head ", referring to the request
He also reiterated, in statements to Radio Cooperativa, that the proposal for a bonus of 15.5 million pesos per worker is not not, "because he disguise it with a purchase of benefits that we have insured".
"In reality, the proposed term trading bonus is 4.5 million pesos (about $ 6,900) and the rest is only the intention to buy profits that we already have, and therefore 15.5 million "he explained.
According to Carlos Allendes, this transgresses the legal norms and "we would work overtime, we can not accept it", while asserting that the link requested by the union "is the nothing", compared to the dividends received by the unions. shareholders of the company last year.
"What disturbs a lot is that, unfortunately, Minera Escondida no longer takes our request and, on the contrary, makes another attempt to take away our profits and down the floor What we have, it's more important and more important than a final bonus. "
" We have to sit down and make a mutual agreement, if we do not want the world no moreover, we could get closer to what the Labor Code says and ask for 30% annual profits, and that will not be achieved, "he concluded.
Source: EFE / Reuters
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