SANTIAGO (Reuters) -The striking union at BHP's Escondida copper mine in Chile is meeting with management to see if they can "bring positions closer," said a source with knowledge of the matter on Wednesday.

The union began a strike on Tuesday at Escondida, the world's largest copper mine, after contract negotiations fell apart. The meeting did not constitute a formal restart of talks, the source said.

BHP did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and the union declined to comment.

A group of workers began building an encampment at Puerto Coloso in the northern city of Antofagasta on Wednesday, the port that BHP uses for shipments from the mine, according to a Reuters witness.