More than 1000 Asarco workers on strike against Grupo Mexico

USA: At the weekend, more than 1200 workers at the copper mines of the United States company Asarco (American Smelting and Refining Company), a Grupo Mexico subsidiary, began a strike that has spread to almost all its plants in the states of Arizona and Texas. The strike was sparked by Grupo Mexico’s attempts to cut Asarco workers’ medical and pension benefits, claiming that it bears the highest costs in the industry. The Asarco workers’ trade union maintains that the company negotiated contracts in "bad faith". About 750 workers at Asarco's copper production installations in Ray, Arizona, went on strike on Saturday, after their collective agreement expired. The strike later spread to miners at Mission and Silver Bell, which also belong to the company. They went on strike on Sunday after contract negotiations had stalled. Workers at the Hayden foundry also stopped work on Sunday, but the company said the plant was being operated by supervisors and foremen. Faced with the paralysis of its operations, Grupo Mexico issued a press release stating that, "Asarco is maintaining production with non-union labour, at a slower rate than programmed. This could reduce production by 50%, representing an annual loss of between 100,000 and 125,000 tonnes of copper." Union leader Many Armenta told press agencies that the strike began at the weekend and spread to all Asarco mines and installations in Arizona. Only one plant, at Amarillo, in the state of Texas, remained open. He added that workers at Amarilo would probably join the strike today, Tuesday. Union leaders said the talks initially planned for Wednesday have been cancelled. "The company contacted our spokesman, Terry Bonds, and told him they did not believe that negotiations could be productive in the current situation", he concluded. The Asarco strike could affect up to a fifth of Mexico Group’s total copper production. Grupo Mexico is one of the world's biggest copper producers. It has mines in Mexico, United States and Peru. In the last few months, mining and metalworking unions in each country have united to demand that the company respects workers’ rights and improves benefits.Jul 05, 2005 – Anita Gardner