Union at Freeport's Cerro Verde delays strike plan

LIMA, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Workers at the Cerro Verde copper pit, Peru's third largest, said Monday they delayed plans to go on strike as the union holds talks with mine owner Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc (FCX.N).

"We've agreed to suspend the strike measure for a week," union leader Leoncio Amudio told Reuters. "We hope to reach an agreement."

Amudio said if talks this week for better pay and benefits fail then a strike could start Nov. 10.

Peru is the world's No. 2 copper producer and last year the mine produced 273,960 tonnes of the red metal.

Global prices for the red-metal have plunged in recent weeks on worries about cratering demand for base metals. (Reporting by Terry Wade; Editing by John Picinich)