<article><p class="lead">A union representing workers at mining firm BHP's Escondida copper mine in Chile has urged its members to reject the company's latest collective bargaining offer and vote to legally strike. </p><p>Union No 1, which represents more than 2,000 workers, is due to vote on the company's latest labour contract offer from 29 July through to 31 July. </p><p>BHP's offer after the end of regular talks falls short of employee demands, the union said, with the mining company pushing for longer hours and new operational and working requirements. </p><p>"[A strike] is the only tool that in this stage remains for the workers to press for an urgent rectification of the way things are done by the company's administration," the union said. </p><p>Escondida is the world's largest open-pit copper mine and produced 1.18mn t of copper in 2020 and 426,700t in the first five months of 2021. </p><p>Market participants will monitor the outcome of the vote for any indications on potential impacts on supply. Tight supply has contributed to higher copper prices this year with the red metal hitting an all-time high of $10,720/t in May before falling back over the past two months to $9,805/t in the official session on 29 July. </p><p>BHP, among other global mining firms, has benefited from higher prices for metal this year but the UK-Australian firm saw a fall in <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2235797">copper production</a> in its most recent fiscal year. </p><p>The company produced 1.64mn t of copper in its July 2020-June 2021 fiscal year, down from 1.72mn t in its previous fiscal year. </p><p class="bylines">By Corey Aunger</p></article>
