Clean Energy Transition on Whose Shoulders?: The Strike at Lithium Mining in Chile.

The paper "Clean Energy Transition on Whose Shoulders: The Experience of the Strike by Workers in the Atacama Salt Flat" delves into the historic 2021 strike at the lithium mine in Chile's Atacama Salt Flat, a first and singular event in the country's lithium industry. Led by the workers' union of the North American-owned Albemarle company, the strike endured for over 30 days, marking a significant milestone.

The research adopts a comprehensive approach, incorporating interviews with workers, community leaders, Albemarle representatives, and local political authorities. These interviews offer unique insights into the motivations, demands, and perceptions of the various stakeholders. Additionally, the study is supported by meticulous archival research to contextualize and complement the information gleaned from interviews.

The strike's duration and unprecedented impact are best understood through the shared experiences of those directly involved. Indigenous communities surrounding the salt flat played a crucial role by actively supporting the strike, providing material, political, and moral assistance, adding an extra layer of complexity to the labour dispute.

This article not only dissects the strike events but also highlights intersections between labour, territorial, and community dimensions. The analysis unfolds within the context of a global production network, underscoring the global relevance of the lithium industry in the transition to cleaner energy sources, identifying a specific labour regime frame.

In conclusion, "Clean Energy Transition on Whose Shoulders" draws from archival data, statistics, and firsthand perspectives of those involved, offering a nuanced understanding of this labour phenomenon within a 400-word limit. The article contributes significantly to the analysis of contemporary labour mobilizations, emphasizing the importance of considering social and community dimensions in the context of the energy transition.