Mining giant BHP and the union representing workers at its Spence copper mine in Chile will kick off on Wednesday government-mediated talks aimed at averting a strike, both parties said. BHP activated a mandatory five-day period of government mediation, typical of such labor talks in Chile, after union members massively rejected a new contract offer from the company earlier this week, paving the way for a strike. "We will meet in a couple of hours to start the mandatory mediation after BHP requested that," union head Ronald Salcedo told Reuters. "The talks will last five business days, so we can try and reach an ... (full story)