Tom Mellen www.morningstaronline.co.uk
Miners shut down Chile’s state-owned copper mining company on Monday in a 24-hour strike against privatisation plans.
The action by Federation of Copper Workers (FTC) members and their colleagues halted Codelco operations at the mines of Radomiro Tomic, Gabriela Mistral, Chuquicamata, El Salvador, Ventanas, El Teniente and Andina.
Staff employed by Codelco, the world’s largest copper producer, walked out on the 40th anniversary of the nationalisation of Chile’s mining sector by the administration of former president Salvador Allende.
The left social-democratic government’s decision to bring the lucrative industry into public ownership was so popular that even General Augusto Pinochet didn’t dare undo it after seizing power in the US-backed coup of 1973.
But Chile has privatised many aspects of its copper industry in the decades since then and has entered into huge joint ventures with transnationals.
And while Codelco remains state-owned and provides about 40 per cent of the government’s annual revenue the right-wing government of billionaire President Sebastian Pinera recently brought in new management that has announced its intention to lay off 2,600 workers, reduce health benefits and attract private investment.
In order to lure potential investors Mr Pinera recently announced plans to impose a “restructuring plan” on Codelco.
Unions say the plan is a sell-off by stealth.
FTC president Raimundo Espinoza said: “We see that there is an underhand privatisation.
“We are going to hand over all the evidence to the Inspectors’ Office, the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate and the presidents of all the political parties.”