TORONTO - Vale said on Wednesday it will resume mediated talks with striking workers at its Sudbury, Ontario, mining operations in the hopes of ending a 10-month old strike.

Vale spokesman Cory McPhee said talks were slated to resume on June 4.

About 3 000 workers walked out on June 13 last year after contract talks broke down over pension, worker bonuses and contract language issues.

The two sides were largely at a stalemate over the winter, but there have been recent signs of progress, including brief talks about a month ago.

There has also been a resumption of talks at a separate strike at Vale's Voisey's Bay mine in Eastern Canada.

The United Steelworkers union represents workers at both sites, although through separate bargaining units. However, the union has suggested in the past its strategy with the two sites is linked.

Together, Vale's Canadian operations in Sudbury and at Voisey's produce about 10 percent of the world's nickel, as well as substantial amounts of copper and precious metals.

The Brazil-based company has resumed partial operations at both sites using non-unionized employees and outside contractors.

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