Chilean Copper Workers Strike to Protest Privatization

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Nearly 17,000 workers at Codelco, Chile´s National Copper Corporation, went on strike on Monday to protest the eventual privatization of the mining company.

The strikers planned a national rally in Plaza de la Ciudadania outside the presidential palace, where copper miners, the teachers' union and student federations will demand the re-nationalization of the copper mining industry.

The leader of the Chilean Federation of Copper Workers, Raimundo Espinoza, accused Codelco's management of preparing to privatize the company.

Monday’s strike coincided with the 40th anniversary of the nationalization of the copper industry, decreed by the Salvador Allende government (1970-1973), and a date considered by the people as Day of National Dignity.

However, the privatization later promoted by the military regime of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990) and strengthened during the Concertation coalition government and now by the current right-wing administration, led to the fact that, at present, 70 percent of Chile´s copper is produced by large private mining companies.