Sudbury, Ont. -
Contract talks between Vale Inco and striking Steelworkers have broken off.
Mediator Kevin Burkett said Thursday the two sides could not reach a deal to end the strike, which is now almost 10 months old.
More than 3,000 Steelworkers in Sudbury and Port Colborne, Ont., have been on strike since last July 13 in a dispute over pensions, the nickel price bonus and transfer rights.
More than 200 Steelworkers in Voisey's Bay have been on strike since Aug. 1 over similar issues.
This is the second time negotiators for the Steelworkers and Vale Inco have met to bargain since the strike began.
Ten days of negotiations in early March failed to end the impasse and led to a rejection of Vale Inco's offer of settlement.
"At my invitation, representatives of the parties have been meeting in an attempt to find a pathway towards settlement," Burkett wrote.
"Unfortunately, I have concluded that at this time no such pathway exists," read the report.
"Accordingly, I have adjourned these discussions."
Vale Inco had little to say about the breakdown of talks.
"We respect the decision from Mr. Burkett acknowledging that the latest round of mediated talks have ended without an agreement," said Steve Ball, the company's Sudbury spokesman.
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