Chilean copper workers from Chuquicamata, the world’s largest open-pit mine, have called for a rally on August 10 in front of the Santiago headquarters of National Copper Corporation (Codelco) to defend the state-owned giant against a privatization push by the ruling far-right Republican Party. The demonstration, timed for Miner’s Day, is directed at Arturo Squella, president of the Republican Party, who has proposed advancing the full or partial privatisation of the corporation. Codelco was created after copper nationalization was unanimously approved in 1971 under the government of Salvador Allende. RELATED: Disapproval of Chilean President Kast Hits 54% in Post-Storm Criteria PollThe union stressed that workers and Chileans cannot remain “still” amid what it described as a privatizing offensive by the government, political parties, and business sectors. The Republican proposal has triggered one of the broadest rejections since President José Antonio Kast took office.