Antofagasta Plc averted a strike at its Los Pelambres copper mine in Chile as around 82% of the unionized workers approved a new labor contract, Reuters reported March 26.

The new contract includes an average salary increase of 3% and a signing bonus of US$30,500 per head.

"After six months of negotiations, we've reached a satisfactory deal. All of the conditions and benefits we obtained are above market-average," said Sergio Munoz, president of the largest union at the mine.

The workers recently rejected the company's offer, triggering a period of government-mediated negotiations.

According to an earlier report by Reuters, another workers' union at the Los Pelambres mill already reached an agreement with the miner.