A strike at the Escondida copper mine, in Chile, the world’s largest, appeared far from ending on Monday as the conflict neared its third week, with the union denying a news report that it had returned to talks with mine owner BHP Billiton.
Escondida’s about 2 500 workers began a strike on February 9, after contract talks with BHP failed, pushing global copper prices higher on expectations of tighter supply.
