Labor strikes at Chilean copper mines are driving up prices for copper worldwide.

Two days of strikes at the privately-held Collauhuasi mine and two weeks of labor unrest at state-owned Codelco mines have disrupted production in Chile, the world's leading copper producer.

Global Copper Prices Higher as Labor Strikes Continue at Chilean Copper Mines

On Monday, stone-throwing protesters wounded a miner at Codelco's Andina division, northeast of the capital, Santiago. The incident prompted Codelco to suspend operations there because of concerns for workers' safety.

Global Copper Prices Higher as Labor Strikes Continue at Chilean Copper Mines

Codelco also temporarily shut down its largest mine on Monday, when protests erupted into violence at El Teniente, south of Santiago.

Global Copper Prices Higher as Labor Strikes Continue at Chilean Copper Mines

About 28,000 subcontracted workers at Codelco began their strike at El Teniente on June 25. They want better wages, benefits, and bonuses in line with the company's 14,000 regular employees, who have benefited from Codelco's soaring profits.