The union representing workers at the Highland Valley Copper Mine near Logan Lake will be spending the day in mediated talks with mine owner Teck Resources.
It comes as the United Steelworkers Local 7619 issued a 72-hour strike notice on Tuesday afternoon.
NL News has learned that both sides have a 4 p.m. deadline to reach an agreement with mediators Vince Ready and Corrin Bell. If no agreement is reached, the mediators will issue a report to the Chair of the Labour Relations Board, kicking off a 48 hour period where neither side is allowed to take job action.
As reported on Tuesday, the 1,048 mine workers at the mine will be in a legal strike position on Sunday.
The strike notice comes as both sides are negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the previous agreement which expired just over three months ago, on Sept. 30, 2021.
Highland Valley Copper is the largest open-pit copper mine in Canada, and it has been operational since 1962.
Teck Resources is hoping to expand the life of the mine to 2040, a 12-year extension to the current estimated closing date in 2028.