Chile's Escondida invites union to early labor talks

By Fabian Cambero

LIMA, March 14 (Reuters) - BHP's Escondida copper mine in Chile (Stuttgart: 704599.SG - news) , the world's largest, said on Wednesday that it has invited its powerful workers' union to start early talks on a new collective labor contract.

Last year, a more than month-long strike at Escondida ended with workers opting to extend their previous contract through July 31 of this year instead of replacing it.

New (KOSDAQ: 160550.KQ - news) negotiations are scheduled for June, but BHP said it hoped to begin earlier.

"This invitation seeks to open a space of dialogue and respect in which the current challenges of the company and the legitimate interest of its workers can be address together," the company said in a statement without proposing a date.

The union summoned its members to an assembly to decide whether to accept the invitation, according the union's website.

In February, the union ruled out early talks amid a dispute with the company over the formation of a competing union at the mine.

Last year's strike jolted the global copper market and cost BHB an estimated $1 billion.

(Reporting by Fabian Cambero; Writing by Mitra Taj; Editing by Sandra Maler)