The Colombian government will mediate talks between coal mining giant Cerrejon and its workers with the aim of reaching a compromise by Saturday, Reuters reported Friday.
Colombia’s Vice President Angelino Garzon will meet with Leon Teicher, the president of Cerrejon, and leaders of the Sintracarbon union to try to make a compensation deal that has evaded the two parties since talks began in early December. The negotiations will focus on the workers’ demands for a salary increase.
The union is expected to make a decision Saturday as whether to accept the company’s proposal or go on strike.
Cerrejon is Colombia’s largest coal exporter, producing an output of 31.4 million tons in 2010. Colombia ranks as one of the world’s top coal producers, with 76 million tons exported in 2010.