Union at BHP's Escondida mine says company made 'illegal' offer amid negotiations

The union representing workers at BHP's Escondida mine in Chile told its members on Monday that it would accuse the company of "anti-union practices" for making a contract offer outside of a government-mandated mediation process.

The company and the powerful workers' union have been in a five-day period of government mediation, due to expire at midnight on Monday, aimed at preventing a strike after workers overwhelmingly rejected a previous contract offer from BHP during a formal negotiation period.