Union local President James Slevin huddled with mediators from the U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service after angrily leaving the contract discussions.
He suggested that mediators from Gulf states could lead the negotiations.
As the conflict heightened today, mediators from the West African nation of Senegal flew north to meet rebel leaders.
Mediators from the European Union, Moscow and Washington reported to the United Nations that the negotiations had failed.
As recently as a week ago, Israelis and Palestinians met again with mediators from the Central Intelligence Agency.
However, the president's request has yet to be confirmed by either Moscow or mediators from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Mediators from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) – the east African bloc brokering talks – vowed to take a hard line if the rivals once again flout the agreements.
A body of mediators from the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia was barred by Israel from coming here to meet Mr. Arafat.
In the meantime, mediators from the bloc appear to be pressing Mali into reconsidering its decades-old position on the Tuaregs.
Tensions escalated as the company hired 450 temporary workers, and both sides met with federal mediators from Wednesday through Saturday.
We are encouraged by reports that the two sides will meet with mediators from the African Union on Saturday.
