Striking steelworkers will be back at the bargaining table Friday with Wabush Mines in an attempt to reach a settlement for 300 members of Steelworkers Local 6285. The workers have been on strike since July 5.

The talks will take place in Sept Iles, Que. A settlement would mean a return to work for employees in Labrador and at the Wabush pelletizing and shipping facilities in Pointe Noire, Que. The strike had been sparked when workers overwhelmingly rejected an earlier company offer.

Earlier this week, Steelworkers ratified a settlement with Iron Ore Co. of Canada, ending a 12-week strike by 1400 members of Steelworkers' Locals 9344, 5795 and 6731. The strikes had affected operations at IOC's mine in Labrador and the Quebec North Shore and Labrador (QNS and L) Railway in Sept Iles.

Wabush Mines is owned by Stelco Inc., Dofasco Inc. and Cliffs Mining Co., which also manages the property.

As a result of a recent merger with the former Industrial Wood and Allied Workers (IWA), the United Steelworkers now represents about 250,000 men and women working in every sector of Canada's economy.