Chilean union says Escondida mine was 'irresponsible' as Covid cases surged

A union representing workers at BHP's Escondida mine in Chile, the world's largest copper mine, said on Friday the firm had been erratic and irresponsible as Covid-19 infections have risen among the workforce.

"We consider that the company has been erratic, dismissive and irresponsible in the responses it has given us, emphatically denying, on the afternoon of January 14, that there was an outbreak of Covid-19," the union said in a statement.