Workers ending strike at Freeport

Workers have started returning to work at the massive Freeport?s gold mine in Papua, finally signaling an end to the three-month strike that has crippled production.

Virgo Solosa, a union spokesman, said workers Sunday removed roadblocks to the mine sites and a traditional ceremony was held to mark the end of the strike.

"We will resume going to work very soon. Initially we will mobilize 400 workers to the mine and see if they face any security issues such as shootings. We will then send more workers," Solossa said as reported by The Jakarta Post.

This follows an agreement between representatives of the company and workers? union, signed on December 14, under which workers will receive a 37 percent wage hike and improved benefits.

"Most of the workers were satisfied with the deal," Solossa said.

Around 8,000 of Freeport's 23,000 workers have been on strike since September 15, crippling production at the mine which is controlled by US energy giant Freeport-McMoRan. (*)