Anglo American's Chile Unit Signs Labor Contracts At 2 Mines

1st Jul 2010 19:49

SANTIAGO (Dow Jones)--The Chilean unit of global mining company Anglo American PLC (AAUKY, AAL.LN) signed new labor contracts ahead of legally mandated schedules at two of its local mines, the company said Thursday. By signing the contracts early at its Mantos Blancos and Mantoverde mines, the company avoided labor unrest or production disruptions. The new contracts will be in effect until 2013 and benefit 630 workers, the company said in a statement. "We have a history of having good relations with unions, which has allowed us to negotiate and reach an early agreement to renew collective contracts," said Alejandro Mena, vice president of human resources. The contracts at Anglo American's other divisions in Chile--Los Bronces, El Soldado and Chagres--were signed in late 2008 and expire in December 2012. In 2009, Anglo American produced a record 669,814 metric tons of copper in Chile. Last year, Mantoverde produced 61,515 tons of copper and Mantos Blancos produced 90,153 tons of the red metal. -By Carolina Pica, Dow Jones Newswires; 56-2-715-8919; [email protected] (END) Dow Jones Newswires July 01, 2010 14:49 ET (18:49 GMT)