SANTIAGO, Chile (AFX) - Striking workers at the world's largest copper mine have lowered their wage increase demand from 10 percent to 8 percent in an effort to resume contract talks after a two-week stoppage at la Escondida, a labor union spokesman said.
'We have decided to show maximum flexibility, because we really want an end to this conflict,' union spokesman Pedro Marin told the Associated Press by telephone from Antofagasta, 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) north of the Chilean capital of Santiago.
Officials for Minera la Escondida, the mine operator, could not immediately be reached.
Marin said a one-time, end-of-conflict bonus that is under negotiation will depend on the length of the contract finally agreed upon. He said the contract could be from three to four years.
'The bonus is negotiable, what matters is the entire contract, which must be clear and balanced,' Marin said. He did not elaborate further.
The workers' original demand was for 16 million pesos (US$29,600; euro22,900) in bonuses.
Workers voted Monday to reject the company's offer of a 4 percent salary increase. The offer also included bonuses and low-interest loans.
The strike entered its 16th day on Tuesday, allowing the company by law to negotiate individually with workers. It was unclear whether the company would engage in individual negotiations.
The Australian-British consortium BHP Billiton PLC owns 57.5 percent of the mine, while Rio Tinto PLC, also Australian-British, holds 30 percent, and the Mitsubishi Corp.-led Japanese consortium 10 percent.
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