In Pics | Miners end strike at Codelco after reaching agreement

Workers at Chile's state mining company Codelco, the world's largest copper producer, called off an open-ended strike on June 23 after reaching an agreement with the government. The strike by some 40,000 mine workers to protest the closure of a foundry in one of Chile's most polluted regions, was ended after one day.

Workers at Chile's state mining company Codelco, the world's largest copper producer, called off an open-ended strike June 23 after reaching agreement with the government. Credit: Reuters Photo

The strike by some 40,000 mine workers to protest the closure of a foundry in one of Chile's most polluted regions, was ended after one day. Credit: AFP Photo

The FTC labour federation had agreed with the company to work jointly towards closing the Ventanas foundry, over a period of time, in an area dubbed

Codelco announced it would close the Ventanas foundry after an incident on June 9 when 115 people, mostly school children, suffered sulfur dioxide poisoning released by heavy industry in the area around Quintero and Puchuncavi, home to some 50,000 people. Credit: AFP Photo

Greenpeace described the area around the Ventanas plant as

Workers of Codelco's Ventanas copper smelter take part in a nationwide strike in protest against the government's and the company's decision to close the smelter in Ventanas, Chile. Credit: Reuters Photo

Miners block access to the Ventanas smelter during the national strike of workers of the state-run mining company Codelco -- the world's largest copper producer -- in Ventanas, Chile. Credit: AFP Photo