Members of trade unions 1, 2 and 3 had voted in favour of strike action last month, saying the state-owned miner's final offer had made "a mockery" of their demands. Workers and their supporters marched "for dignity" in Calama on the weekend. The company is planning to cut more than 1,000 jobs as it transitions the 104-year-old mine to an underground operation as part of a plus-US$5 billion investment to extend the minelife. The unions, that represent 3,200 workers, have said they wanted improvement in health care, equality between workers and retirement benefits. "We open Chuqui with a strike and we will close ... (full story)