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BHP Billiton, Escondida workers begin new wage negotiations

BHP Billiton Group and unionized workers at the company's majority-owned Escondida copper mine in Chile started a new round of labor talks, Reuters reported June 1, citing the union.

The parties failed to reach an agreement during early wage talks in April.

The new negotiations center around a contract proposal that includes a one-time bonus of about US$34,000 per worker, equivalent to 4% of dividends distributed to shareholders in 2017, as demanded by the union. The group also asked for a 5% wage increase.

BHP said it would review the proposal and respond within 10 business days as mandated by law. Direct talks between the union and the company are set to start in July.

A 44-day strike at Escondida ended in March 2017 without a new deal after the union invoked a legal provision to extend its previous contract by 18 months.