* Strike hits Buenaventura, Barrick, Volcan * Walkout has limited support * Southern Copper, BHP Billiton work normally * Xstrata, Newmont mines open (Adds labor ministry declaring strike illegal) By Patricia Velez and Terry Wade LIMA, Oct 19 (Reuters) - A nationwide strike by Peruvian miners drew limited support on Monday as laborers stayed on the job at key copper and gold mines, even as they demanded the government pass laws to improve benefits. Union leaders said the walkout hit mines of Buenaventura, Barrick and Volcan, but those of global heavyweights such as Southern Copper, Freeport, BHP Billiton and Newmont operated normally. [ID:nN19369993] "The strike is for better benefits, on retirement ages and profit-sharing, which we've been demanding for three years and so far we've got nothing," Luis Castillo, director of the National Federation of Peruvian Mining Unions, told Reuters. Peru is a leading global minerals exporter and the miners federation is upset President Alan Garcia rejected a law, which Congress had approved, to lower the age for retirement. Private-sector pension funds would have had to pay out millions of dollars in extra benefits if Garcia had signed the law. Workers also want Congress to throw out a rule that limits the amount they can earn from profits that are distributed to them by companies. Currently, the ceiling is 18 monthly salaries, but during the latest boom the miners said they should have received more. Peru's labor ministry declared the latest strike illegal, an attempt to prod workers to return to their jobs. The previous time miners across Peru downed tools was in mid 2008 and the stoppage helped push copper prices toward a record high. Globally, Peru ranks No. 1 in silver output, No. 2 in zinc, No. 3 in copper and tin, No. 4 in lead and No. 6 in gold. The latest walkout comes as minerals prices have gained ground since crashing in late 2008, and mining companies are expected to see higher third-quarter profits after a tough first half of this year. Buenaventura's <BUEv.LM> <BVN.N> Orcopampa and Uchucchacua mines were halted by the strike, and its shares were down more than 4 percent at $37.20 on the New York Stock Exchange. Global prices for gold <XAU=> and copper <MCU3> were mainly supported on Monday by the weak U.S. dollar. Workers at Barrick's <ABX.TO><ABX.N> Peruvian gold mines also walked off the job, union officials said. A Barrick official said output was not cut. Volcan <VOL_pb.LM>, one of Peru's top zinc and silver producers, saw its key mine Cerro de Pasco hit by the strike, said union leader Gonzalo Cristobal. A company official said production was not impacted. LEADING MINES OPEN The Yanacocha gold mine of Newmont Mining <NEM.N> operated normally, union official Guillermo Nina said. Workers had planned to strike, but they are are heading into talks for a new labor contract and ended up staying on the job, Nina said. "The contract talks will require us to be strong," Nina said. "But if Garcia doesn't support the changes, then we'll go on strike." Laborers reported to work at the key mines and smelter of Southern Copper <SPC.LM> <PCU.N> and Xstrata <XTA.L> and at BHP Billiton's <BHP.AX><BLT.L> Antamina mine, union officials said. Xstrata's Tintaya copper mine was also open, a union leader said. Freeport-McMoRan's <FCX.N> Cerro Verde mine, one of Peru's main copper pits, was working normally as laborers decided at the last minute to show up for their jobs. (Reporting by Patricia Velez and Dana Ford; Editing by Terry Wade and Jim Marshall and Lisa Shumaker)
Aerial view shows Nevado del Huila volcano in activity in Huila province October 17, 2009. The alert on the status of the volcano, in southwest Colombia, changed last weekend from yellow ...
