Sierra Gorda union agrees deal with KGHM to avert Chile copper mine strike

SANTIAGO: Polish miner KGHM and a union representing workers at its Sierra Gorda copper mine in Chile have come to an agreement over contract talks, the head of the union told Reuters, heading off the threat of a strike.

Maykel Ocayo, president of Sierra Gorda's 520-member Union 1, told Reuters in a message that workers had voted on Saturday in favour of accepting an offer from the company with a roughly two-thirds majority. He did not give details about the deal.

The union threatened strike action in mid-March after rejecting an earlier offer from the miner. The two sides agreed to extend contract talks last week.

Sierra Gorda produced 101,900 tonnes of Chile's 5.8 million-tonne total copper output last year.