Chile copper workers end strikeJul 31, 2007 04:42 PM Associated...

Chile copper workers end strike
Jul 31, 2007 04:42 PM
Associated Press

SANTIAGO, Chile – Contract workers at Chile's state-owned copper company Codelco agreed Tuesday to end a 36-day strike that had sporadically halted production at three of the company's five divisions and affected copper prices worldwide.

The agreement calls for the companies employing the contract workers to pay a one-time productivity bonus of about US$865 to some 28,000 workers.

"We have earned a great victory," said union leader Cristian Cuevas in announcing the end of the work stoppage.

The contract workers are employed by private companies performing a variety of services for Codelco not related to mining, including transportation, catering, maintenance security and others. It was not clear how many workers joined the strike and Codelco and union leaders reported conflicting figures.

Cuevas said only Salvador in northern Chile, Codelco's smallest division with fewer than 1,000 contract workers, had yet to approve the accord.

The companies employing the contract workers also agreed not to fire any strikers, except those indicted for violence during the strike. The companies will also only discount eight days from the strikers' pay.

Codelco officials put the losses caused by the strike at more than $90 million from lost production and damage to company property in the sporadic violence.

Codelco is the world's largest copper producer.