The employees of the Centinela copper mine, controlled 70% by the Chilean-British multinational Antofagasta and 30% by the Japanese Marubeni, have begun a strike this Wednesday after the mandatory mediation promoted by the Labor Directorate of Chile concluded without consensus regarding the equalization of salaries.
The conflict arises from the differences in salary and benefits between workers performing the same functions but belonging to different unions. The calling organizations maintain that the company has rejected their proposal to correct these gaps without presenting alternative proposals.
"The strike has as its only cause the persistent position of the company to maintain differentiations without justification, affecting hundreds of workers and impacting the weakened national mining activity," stated the Workers' Union of Minera Esperanza and the Workers' Union District Centinela.
According to the joint statement, the strike has an "undeniable fairness and legitimacy" and will continue in an "orderly and peaceful" manner as long as necessary until the owners "rectify their position." The mobilization, which began at 08:00 local time, is expected to involve more than 700 employees.
The Centinela mine produced 240,400 metric tons of copper in 2025 and operated with 100% seawater and 100% renewable energy, according to its website. It also obtains gold, silver, and molybdenum as by-products.