"We're going to see if that could put in place a dialogue going forward," union spokesman Carlos Allendes said after exiting a meeting with BHP in the city of Antofagasta.

"We're hopeful. We have the willingness, and we're going to wait."

(Reporting by Felipe Iturrieta; Writing by Gram Slattery; Editing by Sandra Maler)

Stocks treated in this article : BHP Billiton plc, BHP Billiton Limited