Workers at Codelco threaten work halt to quarantine against COVID-19

Unionized workers at Chile's state-run Codelco, the world's largest copper miner, said on Wednesday they were weighing walking off the job at some sites in order to implement a self-imposed quarantine after one of their members died from COVID-19.

The Federation of Copper Workers (FTC) said in a statement there had been alarming numbers of COVID-19 infections at several of the country's mines. Measures to tame the spread of the COVID-19 had been insufficient, the federation said.

"If it is necessary to halt work in those areas until sanitary conditions are adequate to protect mine workers, we are ready to do so," the federation said in the statement.

FTC President Patricio Elgueta said the group had received a series of complaints from union leaders at Codelco's sprawling Chuquicamata copper mine in northern Chile, alleging the miner had failed to protect worker health.

The FTC reported a mine worker at Chuquicamata died last week from COVID-19. Shortly afterward, Chile's mining minister, Baldo Prokurica, called on the company to adopt all necessary measures to protect the life and health of workers.

.Asian Metal Copyright FTC President Patricio Elgueta said the group had received a series of complaints from union leaders at Codelco's sprawling Chuquicamata copper mine in northern Chile, alleging the miner had failed to protect worker healthAsian Metal Copyright