(WSJ) Workers at Chile’s La Escondida copper mine, which is the world’s largest and producing about 5% of the metal supply, are considering going on a strike.
The anticipated strike follows a rejection of a contract offer from BHP Group Ltd., which controls the mine situated in the northern Atacama Desert in Chile.
Miners will, per the law, continue working during a period of obligatory mediation, which lasts up to 10 days before kicking off the strike.
Analysts say the strike is a negotiation tactic by the miners, with a possible strike expected to disrupt the metal supply in the market and cause an uptick in already high prices.
BHP manages Escondida and controls about 58% of the mine. Other significant investors are Mitsubishi Corp. and Rio Tinto PLC.
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