BHP's Escondida has spoken to union, no plans to replace strikers -source

Reuters - UK Focus

By Fabian Cambero

SANTIAGO, March 10 (Reuters) - Chile (Stuttgart: 704599.SG - news) 's Escondida copper mine, the largest in the world, has had a preliminary conversation with its union as a first step towards ending a month-long strike, a source with knowledge of the situation said Friday.

Escondida, controlled by BHP Billiton (NYSE: BBL - news) , is preparing a new contract offer and has no current plans to bring in replacement workers, the source said. The company had previously said it would not seek to replace workers for the first 30 days but that deadline was reached Friday.

(Reporting by Fabian Cambero, Writing by Rosalba O'Brien; Editing by Andrew Hay)