(Adds company comments)
LUSAKA, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Zambian workers have downed toolsat a mine and copper processing plant belonging to KonkolaCopper Mines (KCM), a unit of Vedanta Resources, in adispute over the pace of wage talks, a union official said onWednesday.
The stoppage at the Konkola mine in Chililabombwe innorthern Zambia began after a Dec. 31 target for completingtalks on a 2017 pay settlement passed without agreement.
"The day shift workers have not entered the plant, they areprotesting the slow pace of salary negotiations," National Unionof Mine and Allied Workers (NUMAW) trustee Jonathan Musukwa toldReuters.
The company is not saying what the impact will be onproduction but the workers locked the gates to block day-shiftoperations.
Union sources said KCM officials were meeting the ministerof labour and the unions to try and resolve the impasse.
The company said the strike was illegal.
"KCM regrets that a handful of employees at the Konkolaunderground mine in Chililabombwe have decided to go on anillegal work stoppage demanding increases in pay," the companysaid in a statement.
"This is in contravention of labour laws since wagenegotiations are still under way between management and theunions and no dispute has been declared."
KCM said management would continue to engage the unions tofind a lasting solution to the problems the company was facing.
Chililabombwe is the largest plant operated by KCM, whichproduced 168,923 tonnes of finished copper in the financial yearended March 31, 2015. (Reporting by Chris Mfula; Editing by Adrian Croft)
