Mediator Kevin Burkett called off a meeting Sunday between Vale Inco and the United Steelworkers union. Talks had continued for ten days, but were called off in response to an impasse over several issues. Union employees called the latest proposal 'horrible,' and claim it didn't not even contain a return-to-work proposal to end the ongoing eight-month strike. The strike has been ongoing since July 13, 2009, and involves over 3,000 workers in Sudbury and Port Colborne. Vale Inco management expressed disappointment and surprise at the decision to call off talks, saying they believed they had 'moved' on several key issues, including bonuses, pensions, wages, and transfers. The union requested a binding arbitration panel, but management rejected this proposal.
See "Mediator calls off talks between Vale Inco and union", Canadian Business, March 7, 2010