Contract talks at Chilean copper mine Dona Ines de Collahuasi broke off Friday afternoon, with the company accusing union leaders of "intolerance and lack of realism" on the 29th day of the strike.

Talks had resumed earlier this week, after a Catholic Church leader brought both sides back to the negotiating table.

"The leaders' stance, which tarnishes the legal process, gives our workers unrealistic expectations, which implies unsustainable demands...worsening the conflict, which with a different attitude should have already been resolved," Collahuasi said in a statement.

Several union leaders didn't immediately respond to calls seeking comment. The sole union at Collahuasi represents 1,551 workers, or 90% of the union-eligible workforce.

At day 29, the Collahuasi strike has now become the longest strike in the mining sector in recent history.

The mine, meanwhile, continues to operate on a contingency plan, which included the hiring of at least 100 replacement workers.

In addition, more than 220 union members broke away from the strike, accepted the company's last wage and benefits offer and returned to work.

-By Carolina Pica, Dow Jones Newswires; 56-2-715-8919; carolina.pica@dowjones.com
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