Codelco subcontractors block access to El Teniente mine

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RANGAGUA.- A group of subcontracted workers from the El Teniente division of Codelco have blocked the Copper Highway in the Barahona area, stopping buses carrying company employees from entering the mine.

The workers, belonging to the company C&G, also blocked the road in the area of Colón Alto. The blockades are a result of a worker strike protesting the fact that no agreements have been reached in the process of collective bargaining with their company.

Five workers were arrested after special police forces arrived at the scene. Officials remained in the area until the protest had been completely broken up.

Jorge Sanhueza, the Sustainability Manager for El Teniente, has stated that the company will file another report with the local Public Attorney's Office,  adding that "this relentless illegal barricading cannot be allowed to continue".

Nevertheless, the company’s operations seem to have remained unaffected by the demonstration due to Codelco´s implementation of contingency plans designed to circumvent such events.