UPDATE 1 — Union at BHP's Escondida mine in Chile refuses to pause contract talks after fatal accident

(Adds details from BHP statement in paragraphs 4-5, 9) By Fabian Cambero Sept 25 (Reuters) — One of the unions at Chile's Escondida mine, the world's largest copper operation, on Friday rejected BHP's attempt to delay contract talks after a worker was killed in an accident earlier this week. The Australian-based miner, in an internal note seen, said it had asked for the temporary suspension of talks with supervisors and staff because of the death, but that the negotiations would continue on schedule after the union representing supervisors refused its request. "We condemn the company for using this tragedy to seek a suspension of the ongoing collective bargaining process, especially when (unions) have repeatedly warned about poor safety conditions at the site," the supervisors' union said in a statement. In a later statement, BHP said the request was intended to focus on supporting workers after the incident. "The request for a temporary suspension of the collective bargaining process — a measure provided for in the labor code — responds precisely to this priority and to concentrating our efforts on the support, containment and care actions that this difficult moment.