Vale SA has restarted partial production on1 October 2009 at Sudbury, its largest nickel and copper unit in Canada, as a strike continues. The company resumed operations at Sudbury’s Clarabelle mill for an initial 48 hour period to process stockpiled ore. Preparatory work continues at Sudbury mines Coleman 153 and Garson Ramp, where the company expects to restart output soon. About 3300 of almost 4600 employees at Sudbury walked off the job on 13 July after talks broke down over a labour contract, leading to the longest strike in Vale’s 67 year history. Output was paralyzed and customers were supplied by stockpiles. Vale has said it would restart Sudbury by retraining staff members who had not joined the strike. The restart will provide employment for 1200 Sudbury workers. No talks are planned for Sudbury strikers.