BHP and striking union at Escondida mine discuss return to formal negotiations

SANTIAGO/ANTOFAGASTA (Reuters) -The striking union at BHP’s Escondida mine in Chile is meeting with management to see if they can “bring positions closer,” said a source with knowledge of the matter on Wednesday.

The union began a strike on Tuesday at Escondida, the world’s largest copper mine, after contract negotiations fell apart. The meeting did not constitute a formal restart of talks and was a preliminary meeting to discuss a return to formal negotiations, the source said.

BHP did not immediately respond to a request for comment but the union confirmed the meeting to Reuters.

A few hundred workers began building an encampment at Puerto Coloso in the northern city of Antofagasta (LON:) on Wednesday, BHP’s exclusive port for shipments, which also houses its desalination plants, according to a Reuters witness.