Antofagasta port workers begin second day of strike

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SANTIAGO.- Workers at the port of Antofogasta, who serve the large copper mines of the country, began their second day of strike today while waiting for the administration to offer some kind of response to their demands for better wages.

The strike has caused a delay in some shipments of the red metal, such as that of the company Xstrata Copper, which belongs to the global mining giant Xstrata.

The port of Antofogasta channels important private copper shipments as well as, although on a lesser scale, those of Codelco – the largest copper producer in the world.

"Right now we continue to be on strike. We are going to see about the possibility of having some sort of contact with management this morning. If the response is negative, we will continue the demonstration", stated Cristián Salfate, who is the president of one of the worker labor unions at the port of Antofogasta.

"All three unions (that operate within the port) have completely halted work", he added.

The indefinite strike, in which almost 400 workers are participating, has so far paralyzed services for two ships that are docked at the port.

Last night, one of the ships near the port left towards Valparaíso, although Salfate assured that there is a pact between all port workers in the country not to tend to a ship coming from Antofogasta.