Vale Labrador strike talks break off

Talks to resolve a labour dispute at the Vale nickel mine in northern Labrador have broken off, a company official has confirmed.

Vale and union representatives had been meeting with a government-appointed mediator to try to settle the strike that began more than a year ago at the Voisey's Bay operation.

The Newfoundland and Labrador government assigned independent mediator Bill Wells on Sept. 16 to try to resolve the conflict between the Brazilian mining giant and its 130 mine and mills workers, represented by the United Steelworkers Union.

The strike started in August 2009, and a previous attempt to reach a second collective agreement between Vale and the Voisey's Bay workforce broke off in July.

Vale issued a news release Monday confirming the most recent talks have ended without a settlement.

"Once again we have come away from our negotiations with United Steelworkers (Local 9508) without any forward progress being made towards concluding a collective agreement," Tom Paddon, general manager of Vale's operations in Newfoundland and Labrador, said in the release.

"It is clear that the USW's bargaining committee is unwilling or unable to commit to meaningful negotiations…. USW's bargaining committee keeps changing its mind on the outstanding issues. Their list of issues changes every time we meet."

The release said Vale tabled its fifth settlement proposal on Sunday.

"It contained a monetary offer that exceeds settlements in our industry, in this province and in our company. USW rejected this proposal and responded with new demands," said the news release.