ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Exploratory talks between the union and the company in the Voisey's Bay labour dispute have broken off without resolution, opening the way for a provincial inquiry into the dispute.

Bob Carter, a spokesman for the Vale mining firm, said that the company met with the United Steelworker's union and a mediator in St. John's on Friday.

However, Carter says that after talks that lasted until late at night the "discussions ended with no resolution to the impasse."

Both Carter and local union president Darren Cove also said that no new talks are planned in the 15-month long strike.

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams issued a statement Friday saying the mine's owner, Vale Newfoundland and Labrador Limited, and the United Steelworkers union must resolve their outstanding issues and reach a settlement.

Williams had said an industrial inquiry will look into the protracted dispute in Labrador unless a deal was reached this week.

The three-person inquiry cannot legislate an end to the dispute, but it can make non-binding recommendations to the province on whether labour legislation needs to be changed and comment on the positions of the company and the union.

Cove says that with the mine running at full production partly due to use of non-union labour and contractors, the company has little reason to settle.

He said the union would welcome the inquiry.

"The only place to go from here is the inquiry and we welcome the outcome of that and hopefully there will be something put in place that will try to end the strike," he said in an interview.

Cove said the union workers will continue to survive on strike pay, but he noted there are tensions in communities where union workers and replacement workers live nearby.

Carter says that the company has tabled five settlement proposals that include wage increases, pension improvements and bonuses for workers.

"We feel the proposals we've tabled are fair and they are reflective of our operations in Labrador," he said.

Carter said between 200 and 250 workers currently are operating the nickle and copper concentrate mine in Voisey's Bay.