Talks to end a two-month-long strike at Imperial Metals’ Mount Polley mine are being held this week. Mining operations have been suspended since the strike began on May 23.

Mount Polley’s mill has continued to operate as staff process low-grade stockpiles. But Imperial reported in its second quarter production results on Friday that Mount Polley produced 3.82 million pounds of copper, down 31.8 per cent from the second quarter of 2017, when it produced 5.6 million pounds. Gold production was also down by 34.7 per cent to 9,110 ounces, from 13,958 ounces in Q2 2017, not including the production lost this month.

Union members from United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1-2017 have been working without a collective agreement since their contract expired at the end of 2017. There are roughly 200 unionized workers at Mount Polley, out of a workforce of around 300 people. Staggered layoffs throughout 2018, implemented to pay for projects related to the 2014 tailings dam breach, will eliminate 78 full-time jobs at the mine.

Related: Investigation into Mount Polley still ongoing as deadline for provincial charges passes

The strike began when Imperial Metals tried locking workers out for three hours to force an agreement.

United Steelworkers representatives were not available for comment.

Imperial’s production forecast for Mount Polley for 2018 was expected to be about 18 million pounds of copper and 45,000 ounces of gold before the strike.

The company also reported a 25.4 per cent reduction in copper production at Red Chris in the second quarter after a breakdown at the mill and lower than expected yield. Red Chris produced 11.51 million pounds, down from 15.42 million pounds copper in the second quarter of 2017.