Two unions representing workers at Antofagasta Minerals’ Centinela copper mine in Chile began a strike vote on September 26, 2026, after contract negotiations reached a dead end. The vote is scheduled to run through September 28.
The unions represent workers at the Esperanza and Distrito Centinela deposits. They said the company’s latest offer fails to resolve existing disparities and that they are financially prepared for a lengthy strike.
The vote adds supply uncertainty to a copper market already on edge from recent disruptions. Centinela is a key operation for Antofagasta, and a prolonged stoppage could affect global copper supplies.
If workers reject the offer, Chilean law requires both parties to enter government-led mediation for five to ten days before a strike can legally begin.