Kennecott agrees to negotiate with unions

Kennecott Utah Copper said Thursday it has agreed to enter into collective bargaining labor negotiations with its various unions.

The current contract, in effect since 2002, is scheduled to expire Sept. 30.

Negotiations will take place between the company and the United Steelworkers of America, the International Union of Operating Engineers, the International Association of Machinists and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. About 1,200 employees are represented by the unions.

Kennecott, the second-largest copper producer in the U.S. and part of Rio Tinto, has 1,800 employees and hundreds of contractors.