Escondida No. 2 Union Rejects Wage Offer, Strike Vote Set for September 28–30
Sindicato N°2 de Supervisores y Staff, representing more than 1,000 supervisors and employees at BHP’s Escondida copper mine in Chile, has called on its members to reject the company’s final wage offer and support strike action. Union president Alexis Barrera said the union leadership unanimously considered the proposal inadequate and objected to the company’s requirement for employees to perform multiple tasks. The offer will be presented to union members this week, with voting scheduled for September 28–30.
If workers reject the company’s offer, a mandatory government mediation process lasting at least five days will begin. The mediation period may be extended by another five days if no agreement is reached, after which workers would be legally entitled to strike. Escondida is seeking to introduce a 14-days-on, 14-days-off shift schedule, but Barrera said the union would not accept the arrangement. “The differences between the two sides remain significant, and an agreement is still a long way off,” he said. Barrera added that workers fully trust the union committee and that a strike vote would be passed if required. The union’s current contract expires on September 30, 2026. It remains uncertain whether a strike will ultimately take place or how long it could last. The vote and further negotiations will be closely monitored.
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