A strike at New Caledonia's biggest nickel company SLN is now in its second month and an end to the conflict is not in sight.
Nickel accounts for almost all of New Caledonia's exports, but the sector is struggling.
While SLN hopes to get out of its slump with a restructure, this is being resisted by two unions.
Walter Zweifel has been following the story and I asked him what the sticking point is.
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SLN ship entering Noumea harbour Photo: RNZ Walter Zweifel