Reuters reported that the union at Peru's copper mine Cerro Verde talks held on Friday yielded no progress toward ending an indefinite strike as a bitter labor dispute dragged on for more than a month.

A union leader said that workers who have been on strike since September 29th 2011 are done negotiating with Freeport McMoRan which controls the mine that produces 2% of the world's copper and want the government to resolve the dispute.

Mr William Camacho union leader said that "We're just waiting. The organization doesn't have the will to go on negotiating. The regional government of Arequipa near Cerro Verde has submitted a resolution to both sides giving them five days to reach a new wage agreement but Cerro Verde appealed the resolution.”

Mr Camacho said that "If the government sides with the company it's a dead end but if it sides with the union, the five days will start running."

Cerro Verde which produced 312,336 tonnes of copper in 2010 is mining at two-thirds its normal daily rate with 600 personnel who volunteered to work under strike conditions.

President Mr Ollanta Humala's team declared the strike legal for the first time in Cerro Verde's 40 year history, empowering the government to step in and allowing workers to stay on the picket line.

(Sourced from Reuters)