POTASHCORROF SASKATCHEWAN Inc.'s miners began striking after four days of mediated talks with the Union of Steelworkers (USW) over new work contracts broke down. The action has halted production at Cory, Allen, and Patience Lake potash mines, in Saskatchewan, Canada. Industrial action at the three mines could take 2.7m. tpa of PotashCorp's total potash capacity offline. Although Patience Lake (257,000 tpa) is a solution mine (operational only in winter) and was expected back online on 4 October 2008, the strike has already stopped operations at Allen (1.74m. tpa) and Cory (768,000 tpa). Rodger Falconer, head strategic campaigns officer at USW, told IM: "Picket lines are up and functioning and we're preparing for a long strike."
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