Workers at Grupo Mexico's Cananea copper mine in the Mexican northwestern state of Sonora voted overwhelmingly at the weekend to end a strike of almost two months that the government has declared illegal, the Mexican Miners and Metalworkers' Union announced Sunday.

The decision followed Grupo Mexico's announcement that all of its approximately 2,000 blue-collar workers had been fired at the La Caridad copper mine and Agua Prieta lime plant, also in Sonora. The La Caridad and Agua Prieta workers had been striking illegally since the end of March. Grupo Mexico said it started firing staff after gaining official backing for closure of the mine.

All three disputes centered on the government's refusal to recognize Napoleon Gomez as leader of the union. Gomez is wanted on charges that he embezzled millions of dollars that Grupo Mexico put in trust for its workers.

The union said that, despite calling off their strike, the Cananea workers would continue to fight for recognition of Gomez.