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re: bhp refuses to talk with escondida mine union Here is the news report missing from the original post...

SYDNEY, Aug 18 (Reuters) - BHP Billiton Ltd./Plc. (BHP.AX: Quote, Profile, Research)(BLT.L: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Friday it will not talk with striking union workers while road access to its majority-owned Escondida copper mine in Chile remains blocked.

"We will not negotiate with the union while they are carrying out this illegal activity," BHP Billiton said in a statement issued in Australia.

"We will only reopen the operations and restart negotiations when we are comfortable that we can guarantee the health and safety of our people and the integrity of the operations," it said.