UPDATE 1-3-day strike begins at Venezuelan steelmaker Sidor

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CARACAS, March 26 (Reuters) - Workers launched a 72-hour strike at Venezuela's largest steelmaker, Ternium Sidor (TX.N: Quote, Profile, Research), late on Tuesday to protest stalled contract talks, a union official told Reuters on Wednesday.

"The strike is for 72 hours and it started last night," said union leader Jose Rodriguez in a telephone interview.

Workers have repeatedly shut Sidor, 60 percent owned by Argentina's Ternium, as part of demands for higher pay.

The union on Monday called a 24-hour strike as part of the same dispute. Earlier in March a union leader was shot and wounded in clashes between police and striking workers.

Sidor produces 4.8 million tonnes of liquid steel annually, according to the union. (Reporting by Deisy Buitrago, Writing by Brian Ellsworth, editing by Dave Zimmerman)