Workers at Antofagasta’s Zaldivar copper mine in Chile enter mediation to stave off strike

Chile’s Antofagasta and unionised workers at its Zaldívar mine entered into mediation with the government on Wednesday in a last-ditch effort to stave off a strike amid a coronavirus outbreak in the South American nation.

Workers at the mine voted in favor of a walk-off late last week after rejecting a new contract offer, which they said had stripped some current benefits.

The company has agreed to continue to dialogue. A period of government mediation will run through July 22, the union told Reuters.