Strike ends at world's biggest copper mine

Miners voted Friday to end a two-week long strike at the world's largest copper mine, La Escondida in northern Chile, approving an agreement struck by their union and management.Escondida employees accepted a management offer of a special production bonus for 2010, a year in which the mine had record earnings, a spokesman for the mine's largest union said. "The strike is going to be lifted," said union spokesman Marcelo Tapia.He said workers were expected to be back on the job on Friday once union and management representatives signed a formal agreement.The company, controlled by Anglo-Australian mining giant BHP Billiton, issued a statement saying "operations have gradually resumed, after workers ended the illegal paralysis of operations."The strikers accepted a 2.6 million peso (about $5,800) bonus, about half what they were initially demanding.Escondida reported 4.3 billion dollars in earnings in 2010, a 35 percent increase over the previous year.The mine produces about seven percent of the world supply of copper. Chile accounts for a third of the world's production of the metal, which has soared in price along with other commodities.