The world’s largest copper producer—established during the administration of Salvador Allende—employs nearly 76,000 people, comprising 16,000 direct employees and 60,000 contract workers.

  Over the years, it has contributed more than $165 billion to state coffers for the construction of hospitals, schools, and other social welfare programs.

  Recently, Arturo Squella, president of the far-right Republican Party, proposed moving toward privatizing the company—or at least a portion of its ownership—an idea also backed by Johannes Kaiser, leader of the extremist National Libertarian Party.

  This week, the Copper Workers’ Federation expressed its categorical and absolute rejection of the proposal, describing it as opportunistic and ill-conceived, aimed at exploiting the current national political climate.

  Workers from Chuquicamata—the world’s largest open-pit copper mine—have announced a demonstration in Santiago for August 10, Miners’ Day, to defend the state-owned company.

jdt/arc/car