An end to a two week-old strike at Chile's largest coal mine appears close at hand after one of two unions involved agreed to return to work Thursday.
In a statement Friday, Mina Invierno said the union representing maintenance workers at the mine -- which has the same name as the company -- had agreed to new terms.
"The company remains ready to reach an agreement with the Rio Verde operators union," Mina Invierno said.
Workers downed tools April 16 after collective wage talks broke down without agreement.
Unions had demanded higher pay and improved safety conditions at the open pit, steam coal operation in Chile's southernmost Magallanes region.
Although the striking employees represented almost half the workforce, the impact of the industrial action has been diminished by the use of contractors.
The mine, which is still under construction, was able to continue loading and shipping coal and this week the company brought a second crusher and ship loader at its Otway terminal online, increasing its capacity for loading vessels.
Mina Invierno, which is owned by Chilean industrial conglomerate Empresas Copec and shipping group Ultramar, only produced its first coal in late 2012 and started loading in March.
Mina Invierno is expected to produce 2.5 million mt of coal during its first year of production, rising to around 4.5-5.5 million mt/year within two or three years.
