Re: Paro en Aluar

Trabajadores de la industria en todo el mundo estan tomando medidas de fuerza para captar una mayor porcion de las ganancias mientras los precios de los metales basicos estan altos y el suministro ajustado.
Los mercados: nerviosos…

FACTBOX-Base metals labour contract expiry dates
Tue Jun 12, 2007 10:40 AM ET

June 12 (Reuters) – Labour disputes and the possibility of further unrest as workers seek a bigger slice of profits while prices are high and supply is tight have made markets nervous.

Following is a rundown of major industry disputes or possible flashpoints, as well as recent settlements:

– On June 12, a pay strike halted production at Aluar’s 275,000 tpy Puerto Madryn aluminium smelter in Argentina. Company spokeswoman said operations had been «totally» affected by the walkout, which began on Friday.

– On June 12 mechanics and electricians at the Galmoy lead-zinc mine in Ireland refused to work overtime in a pay dispute with owners Lundin Mining , the firm said. A spokeswoman said it not certain there would be a strike.

– On June 11, workers at Collahuasi copper mine in Chile said they planned demonstrations later this week to demand an improved labour contract proposal from mine managers. Mine jointly owned by Xstrata Plc. and Anglo American , each with a 44 percent stake and by a group of Japanese companies.

– On June 11, more than 400 unionised workers at Xstrata’s CCR copper refinery in Montreal went on strike after talks with the company broke off, company and union officials said. No further meetings scheduled. Previous contract expired May 30.

– On June 11, workers at Grupo Mexico’s have backed a strike call by their union, an official said, bringing a threatened stoppage one step closer at nine of the company’s operations later this week.

– On June 11, South Africa’s biggest mine workers union said most of its members would probably not be able to join Wednesday’s sympathy strike in support of striking civil servants for legal reasons.

– On June 7, Chile’s Codelco pledged to take steps to improve pay and conditions for sub-contracted workers, but a workers’ representative dismissed the promise as unsatisfactory and said workers would press ahead with strike plans.

– On June 6, Mexican workers postponed the threatened start of a strike at Cananea mine and other operations owned by Grupo Mexico until June 15. Strike previously scheduled to start on June 10 if no agreement reached on safety conditions.

– On June 6, Alcoa Inc. disputed recent media reports in Jamaica that said workers were threatening a strike at the Jamalco alumina refinery. At issue is a court case that will decide whether about 200 independent contractors at the plant are entitled to union representation.

– On June 5, workers at Chile’s Collahuasi copper mine said a new labour contract proposal from the miner was unacceptable and they would refuse to negotiate unless it was improved. Workers sumbitted their wish-list for the new labour contract late last month and were meant to start talks on June 3. The current contract expires June 30.

– On June 5, subcontract workers for Chile’s state-run Codelco gave the company until Thursday to make an economic proposal to meet demand for better pay and working conditions, or face protests on June 8.

– On June 2, workers threatened to strike at nine Mexican mines and processing plants owned by Grupo Mexico, including its Cananea copper mine, the union said. Strikes would also affect company’s Charcas zinc mine and San Luis Potosi zinc smelter.

– On June 2, workers at Chile’s Radomiro Tomic copper mine voted to accept an early contract offer from state-owned Codelco, a union official said. New contract will take effect on July 31. Radomiro Tomic is part of Codelco’s largest mining division, Codelco Norte.

– On June 1, workers at the Jamalco alumina refinery in Jamaica staged continuing protests as they seek to join a trade union. Company said production had not been affected.

– On May 29, subcontract workers lifted a brief blockade of Codelco’s El Teniente copper mine. Workers were protesting firings and failure by (subcontract) companies to fulfil collective agreements, a worker leader said.

– On May 25, CVRD-Inco said mill employees at its Voisey’s Bay nickel mine site had returned to work, ending a two-day work stoppage sparked by an incident involving a replacement worker.

– On May 25, subcontract workers for Codelco said they would strike on June 8 if the company did not improve working conditions and provide a copper bonus. The 28,000 subcontract workers want conditions similar to those the firm gives its union workers.

– On May 23, workers at Collahuasi copper mine submitted a new labour contract proposal and expect to start talks with managers by June 3, a union official said.

– On May 22, the Chilean unit of Anglo American said it had negotiated new labour contracts with unions at its Mantos Blancos and Mantoverde copper divisions.

– On May 9, up to 28,000 subcontract workers at Chile’s Codelco threaten to go on strike over pay and work conditions, El Mercurio newspaper reported.

– On May 5, workers at Southern Copper Corp.’s Toquepala and Cuajone copper mines and Ilo smelter called off a strike over working conditions, a union leader said.

– On May 4, the largest Peruvian miners’ federation called an end to a five-day nationwide walkout, but workers at several sites continued to push their own demands.

– On May 3, Alcan Inc. said workers at its Kitimat aluminium smelter in British Columbia ratified a new five-year labour contract.

– On May 3, production restarted at the Voisey’s Bay nickel mine in Newfoundland after a week-long stoppage when owner CVRD replaced striking support staff.

– On the same day, workers at Boliva’s largest tin mine Huanuni returned to their jobs after a three-day strike over productivity bonuses, a government official said.

– On May 2, Peruvian miners and government officials were to continue talks on Thursday morning to end a nationwide strike, but a union leader cast doubt on whether a deal could be reached. Strike launched on April 30. Many key pits said to be operating normally.

– On the same day, the CEO of Southern Copper Corp. said its Peru output levels had fallen slightly due to a strike by most of its workers. Southern Copper is controlled by Grupo Mexico.

– On April 28, the largest group of unionised workers at Peru’s Ilo copper smelter, run by Southern Copper Corp., launched indefinite strike to demand better wages and benefits.

– On April 23, conditions at Freeport McMoran Copper & Gold’s Grasberg copper-gold mine in Papua, Indonesia were returning to normal after thousands of workers ended a four-day strike at the weekend. Walkout had slashed production.

– On April 11, union leaders blockaded Codelco’s giant Chuquicamata copper mine in northern Chile to protest the company’s slow progress in negotiating certain benefits with workers. Blockade lifted the next day, output not affected.

– On April 10, Chile’s Codelco reached new, early contract agreements with two unions at its Salvador division.

– On April 5, workers at Doe Run’s La Oroya zinc-lead-copper-silver-gold complex in Peru called an end to a three-day strike after reaching a financial deal with the company. Workers began indefinite action because dissatisfied with how the company redistributed a share of profits to employees — something mining firms must do under Peruvian law.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?type=companyNews&storyid=153136+12-Jun-2007+RTRS&WTmodLoc=InvArt-L2-CompanyNews-2