Chile Collahuasi strike heads into fourth day, output normal

IQUIQUE, Chile Nov 8 (Reuters) - A strike by union workers at the world's No. 3 copper mine, Chile's Collahuasi, headed into a fourth day on Monday with no visible impact on output yet as wage talks remained stalled.

The union has vowed a long strike at the mine, which produces 535,000 tonnes a year, or 3.3 percent of the world's mined copper and is owned by Xstrata (XTA.L: Quote) and Anglo American (AAL.L: Quote).

The strike started after five days of government-mediated talks failed. [ID:nN27209201]

"The company continues with its intransigent position," the union said in a statement released late on Sunday. "The Collahuasi union strike continues."

The mine operator has said it has kept production going with the help of replacement workers as part of a contingency plan aimed at lessening the impact of the stoppage. The operator has not said how long it can keep operations running with replacement workers.