The Canadian Auto Workers union says talks are continuing to avert a midnight strike at Xstrata Nickel in the Greater Sudbury area.

Jerry Dias, assistant to the national president of the Canadian Auto Workers union, says this afternoon from Sudbury that talks are still on with the global mining company, but "if something dramatic doesn't happen soon, we'll have a problem."

Dias says there will be a strike at midnight if no deal is reached with the Anglo-Swiss mining giant.

The union will provide an update on negotiations with Xstrata at a 3 p.m. news conference at the Radisson Hotel in Sudbury.

The contract for 540 production and maintenance workers, who are members of Mine Mill Local 598/CAW, expires at midnight.

The two sides have been discussing monetary issues and contact language.

CAW spokeswoman Shannon Devine says in Toronto this afternoon there's no deal yet.

Negotiations have been going on since Dec. 16.