Union sees no talks as Vale Inco strike takes hold

* Union expects prolonged shutdown

* No immediate impact on nickel price seen (In U.S. dollars unless noted)

TORONTO, July 27 (Reuters) - The union representing striking workers at Brazilian miner Vale's (VALE5.SA) Canadian operations is not in talks with the company and expects a prolonged shutdown at the nickel and copper mines, a top official said on Monday.

The bulk of Vale's Canadian operations -- acquired through the 2006 takeover of nickel miner Inco -- have been idled since June due to weak nickel demand.

The operations had been due to restart on Monday, but are remaining shut as unionized workers declared a strike on July 13 after rejecting the company's three-year contract offer.

United Steelworkers District 6 director Wayne Fraser said there has been no contact with the company since the strike began.

"I don't think (there will be) anything for two or three months at least," he said.

About 3,100 workers are off the job at Vale's main nickel hub in Sudbury, Ontario, while 125 workers are striking at the company's operation in Port Colborne, Ontario.

Workers at Vale's nickel mine at Voisey's Bay, in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, also plan to strike when the operation finishes a planned shutdown that has kept it quiet during July.

Key issues at the operations include wages and proposed changes to an employee bonus tied to the price of nickel.

Analysts have said the shutdowns should not have much impact initially on the price of nickel, which has plunged from all-time highs two years ago as a slowing world economy led to a glut of supply.

Nickel MNI0 was worth about $25 a pound in mid-2007, but was trading around $7.70 on Monday.

Vale's Sudbury operations produced 85,300 tonnes of contained nickel last year, while Voisey's Bay produced 77,500 tonnes of contained nickel and 55,400 tonnes of contained copper.

Vale officials were not available for comment.

($1=$1.08 Canadian) (Reporting by Cameron French; editing by Rob Wilson)