December 03, 2008

Striking miners at BHPB Cerro Matoso to end action

Reuters reported that unionized workers at Colombia's Cerro Matoso ferronickel mine accepted a company offer on Sunday to end a four week strike, which began on February 27th 2008.

Mr Roger Herrera president of Sintracerramatoso union said that an assembly voted to lift the protest at the mine and the strike will officially end when commissions from the company and union sign an accord. He told Reuters "We now have authorization to lift the strike.”

Mr Herrera adding that BHPB has offered to address union concerns over contracting employees and replacing workers. He said an agreement should be signed late on Sunday and estimated miners should return to work during Monday.

Cerro Matoso produces around 4% of the world's supply nickel. Cerro Matoso produces around 55,000 tonnes a year of ferronickel in a global nickel market, which has around 1.3 million to 1.5 million tonnes.

BHP Billiton, which operates the mine in northern Colombian province of Cordoba, had declared force majeure on Friday on nickel deliveries from Cerro Matoso because of the dispute mainly over the contracting of workers.