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By Fabian Cambero
SANTIAGO, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Most of Chile's copper miners
said they had maintained their operations on Tuesday, albeit
with some delays and sporadic unrest, amid calls for a general
strike and a fresh day of social protests, unions and management
teams told Reuters.
To date, copper production in the world's largest producer
of the red metal has not been significantly hurt by more than
three weeks of protests pushing demands for improvements in
pensions, health and education.
Public sector workers, students and other trade union groups
called for a general strike on Tuesday, although they guaranteed
that sectors such as fuel production and supply would not be
affected.
In Calama, the city seen as the gateway to the Atacama
Desert which is home to some of Chile's principal copper
deposits, barricades blocked some roads and the entry of
workers' buses and trucks to some sites.
The Collahuasi union, an association between Anglo American
and Glencore, announced a march outside the
mine but output would not be hit, according to a union leader.
BHP operations, which include the vast Escondida
mine, continued to operate, according to sources.
Anglo American said its mines El Soldado and Los
Bronces were experiencing delays and access issues due to
roadblocks, but it was still functioning normally.
The Mining Federation, which represents several private
mines, said some mines including Los Bronces had experienced
stoppages amid the call for a general strike.
Caserones, owned by Japanese-run Lumina Copper, has
maintained minimal operations, the firm said.
(Reporting by Fabian Cambero; writing by Aislinn Laing; Editing
by David Gregorio)
