Strike continues at BHP copper mines in Chile

A strike by workers for BHP's Escondida and Spence copper mines in Chile entered its fifth day on Monday, as the union awaited a decision by labor authorities over whether substitute workers the company called in are legal, a union leader told Reuters. The 200-member union, which runs BHP's Integrated Operations Center in Santiago, walked off the job last Thursday. Global miner BHP subsequently called in substitute workers keep the mine running, a move the union said violated their right to an effective strike. "We are waiting for the audits in the DT (Labor Directorate) to address the issue of replacements," said Jessica Orellana, president of the guild. She told Reuters that there had been no move to return to talks with BHP.