Government on end to conflict at Codelco: "We all could have done a better job"

SANTIAGO.- While the Codelco divisions are finally returning to normal following the end of a 20-day strike that left the company with more than US$100 million in losses, the government continues to criticize itself for the way the conflict was handled.

Government spokesperson Francisco Vidal has admitted that there is always “self-criticism”, because “things can always be done better”.

When asked whether one of the parties that could have acted better was the CEO of Codelco, Jose Pablo Arrellano, Vidal responded by shrugging his shoulders and saying, “Yes…I believe we all could have done a better job”.

Nevertheless, the minister stressed that Arrellano would continue in his position “as long as he maintains the President’s trust”.

Vidal pointed out that the losses incurred by the strike are equal to the treasury cost of the bonuses that have been being handed out since last Friday for some 700 thousand pensioners and 1.5 million people belonging to low-income sectors.