Workers at BHP's Spence copper mine in Chile strike - union president

The workers union at BHP's Spence copper mine in Chile started a strike after layoffs earlier this week, the union leader said on Wednesday, shutting down operations at the northern Chilean deposit.

Union President Ronald Salcedo told Reuters that about 50 workers had been laid off, in addition to eight supervisors, raising safety concerns for the mine's remaining workers and prompting the shutdown.