Peru miners, gov't in final talks to avert strike

LIMA, Apr 29 (Reuters) A day ahead of a planned nationwide miners strike, Peruvian government officials and the country's largest miners union met again today to try to hash out a last-minute deal.

The two sides have negotiated at length since Thursday to avert the indefinite strike in Peru, which is among the world's top two silver producers, is No. 3 in copper and zinc and No 5 in gold.

Members of the National Federation of Metallurgic and Steel Miners resumed talks with labor ministry officials at around 11 am (2130 IST), union and government sources said.

''We're all working toward and hoping for a resolution to the conflict, but we don't believe the government is making any short-term offers,'' said Jesus del Castillo, a top federation leader.

''Negotiations have resumed today and we hope there's a deal because if not, we will go ahead with the strike,'' Del Castillo told Reuters via telephone.

One of the union federation's demands is that President Alan Garcia fulfill campaign pledges to eliminate outsourcing among mining companies. Union leaders say this has been the main sticking point in talks.

The federation is made up of 74 mining unions, representing some 22,000 workers. About 110,000 miners are estimated to work in the sector overall.

Officials at the National Society of Mining, Petroleum and Energy -- which groups the largest private companies operating in these sectors -- have said the strike would only partially disrupt operations at Peruvian mines.

But they have declined to say how much metals production could fall.

Mining is one of the South American country's main economic drivers and accounts for more than half of export earnings.

The majority of Peru's mines are controlled by large multinational companies, which have seen their profits surge on high metals prices. Workers' demands for a greater share of those profits have also increased.

The last nationwide strike took place three years ago, when miners stopped work for 48 hours to protest the previous government's labor policies.

REUTERS JK RAI2345