Representatives from the Peruvian mining, metal and steelworkers federation FNTMMSP are currently in talks with Doe Run Perú regarding a strike planned for Tuesday (Mar 23) at the company’s Cobriza copper mine, federation head Luis Castillo told BNamericas.

Castillo said the union is meeting with Doe Run Perú managers at the Cobriza unit, located in Huancavelica region.

He added that if no agreement is reached over a one-time productivity bonus, among other demands, then 890 workers will walk off the job. Castillo also claimed the company has failed to comply with a collective bargaining agreement signed with the union for 2008-13.

Unionized workers called off a strike after two days at Cobriza on February 28. That strike was also related to the bonus and collective bargaining agreement.

Doe Run representative Jaime Jesús told BNamericas the company is continuing to work with the employees. However, he added that the recent strike had been declared “inadmissable” by the labor ministry.

Doe Run Perú – an affiliate of the Renco Group of the US – also operates a polymetallic smelter in La Oroya, located in Junín region.

According to the company’s website, the Cobriza mine would normally provide about 30% of the copper concentrates processed by the smelter.

The metallurgical complex, however, is currently shut down. It has been operating sporadically since March 2009 when a consortium of banks withdrew their revolving line of credit due to a fall in metal prices.

Operations at La Oroya are expected to resume by April 29 at the latest.

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