Two Chile copper mines edge closer to possible strikes

SANTIAGO, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Workers at Anglo American Plc (LSE: AAL.L - news) 's flagship Los Bronces copper mine and at Chilean state-owned Codelco's small Salvador deposit inched closer to a strike on Thursday after rejecting separate wage deals offered by their respective firms.

Most of the unionized workers at Los Bronces in central Chile (Stuttgart: 704599.SG - news) rejected Anglo American's collective wage deal, but did not immediately go on strike as local law requires a government-sponsored mediation process during contract negotiations, the company said.

Anglo American offered the nearly 1,700 workers a bonus of some $13,000 each, plus other benefits.

Los Bronces is part of the Anglo American Sur complex, which produced 437,800 tonnes of copper in 2015. That's about 8 percent of the total output of Chile, the world's No. 1 copper producer.

Meanwhile, workers at Codelco's smallest mine Salvador also rejected the latest wage offer made by the state-owned copper miner, clearing the way for a strike there, the union told Reuters.

Workers rejected the deal which considered a $3,730 per worker bonus, and no salary increase.

"We will only accept the government-mediated talks if (Codelco) comes with a new offer," Patricio Elgueta, the head of Salvador's union, told Reuters.

Salvador produced 49,000 tonnes of copper in 2015. (Reporting by Fabian Cambero; Writing by Anthony Esposito)