Miners at Chile's Escondida start second 24-hour stoppage

SANTIAGO, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Workers at BHP Billiton Plc (NYSE: BBL - news) 's Escondida, the world's largest copper mine, began their second 24-hour stoppage of the week on Wednesday, as planned.

The union has called out workers at the mine to push for better working, health and safety conditions, it said last week.

Miners also held a 24-hour strike on Monday.

"We have 99 percent on strike, just like we had the first day," union head Patricio Tapia told Reuters on Wednesday.

The union has called the stoppage, which is not expected to significantly affect production, a "warning." Tapia said a meeting had been arranged with the mine management for Monday to discuss their demands.

BHP has not commented on the strikes.

Global miner BHP owns a 57.5 percent stake in Escondida. Rio Tinto holds 30 percent, and Japan's Jeco Co has 10 percent. (Reporting by Fabian Cambero, Writing by Rosalba O'Brien; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)