Workers at BHP Billiton's Cerro Colorado copper mine in northern Chile began an indefinite strike Monday after negotiations over a new wage agreement ended without agreement last week, the union and company said in statements.
Union president Leoncio Parra said 100% of employees on the morning shift, beginning at 7:35 am local time, followed the strike order, bringing operations at the open-pit operation to a halt.
Union members were camped on the access road to the mine, located 125 km (78 miles) east of the port of Iquique.
The mine has capacity to produce 80,000 mt/year of copper cathode through solvent extraction-electrowinning and produced just over 75,000 mt in the 2015 financial year.
Just over 73% of the 526 union members who participated in the vote Friday rejected the latest offer from management.
Parra said members were unhappy with the 1% pay increase and changes to job roles included in the proposal.
In a statement, BHP Billiton said a strike had begun Monday morning in line with Chilean labor law, but did not comment on its impact on operations.
"The company deeply regrets the decision of the workers, as the proposal made every effort to reach a mutually beneficial agreement that would ensure the sustainability of Cerro Colorado," the firm said.
