Jan. 8--Stung by low commodity prices, the operator of the Red Dog Mine near Kotzebue plans a small staff reduction -- solely through attrition -- at the big zinc mine in the first quarter of the year.

Fewer than 10 positions will be affected at Red Dog, which employs about 450, and no cuts are planned at Teck Cominco Ltd.'s other Alaska mine, the Pogo gold mine near Delta Junction, said Sarah Goodman, a spokeswoman for Teck, a Canadian company that operates copper, coal and zinc mines around the world.

Teck said today it will cut 1,400 jobs at its operations worldwide -- 13 percent of the workforce -- in the first quarter to try to save about $85 million. The company also plans to reduce its coal production.

Teck decided not to lay off anyone at Red Dog or Pogo because of the challenges it has attracting and retaining people to work at such remote sites, Goodman said.

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