Labor Woes Spread From Copper to Lithium in Major Exporter

  • Albemarle union begins strike in Chile as wage talks collapse
  • Company says it has contingencies to continue operating
Brine pools at the Albemarle Lithium mine in Calama, Antofagasta region, Chile.Photographer: Cristobal Olivares/Bloomberg
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Chile’s labor woes are spreading from copper to lithium, as members of a union at one of Albemarle Corp.’s sprawling brine-processing operations walked off the job.

The 135 members of the Salar union began a strike Wednesday after failing to reach a wage agreement in collective bargaining with management.