Workers to start new Venezuela Sidor steel strike

CARACAS, March 12 (Reuters) - Workers at Venezuela's largest steelmaker, Argentine-controlled Ternium Sidor, will start a 48-hour strike late on Wednesday in a prolonged dispute over a labor contract that has caused periodic stoppages, a union official said.

The company, which is controlled by Argentina's Ternium (TX.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), one of Latin America's largest steelmakers, produces 4.8 million tonnes of liquid steel annually, according to the union.

Nerio Fuentes, a negotiator for the union SUTISS, said in a telephone interview workers would start a new strike late on Wednesday as part of its efforts to pressure the company to reach an agreement over a collective bargaining contract.

Ternium has a 60 percent stake in Sidor, with workers, pensioners and the state holding the remaining portion.

(Reporting by Fabian Cambero; Writing by Saul Hudson)