After numerous negotiations/mediation days with the assistance of a mediator from the Labour Relations Board the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1-405 and River Butte Management Ltd. (Brisco Wood Preservers) have reached an impasse and a deadline has been issued for strike action.

Brisco Wood Preservers staff certified to the United Steelworkers Local 1-405 on June 6.

Since then the union has been trying to negotiate the standard forestry contract that applies to the union’s certifications in the Kootenays including Stella Jones in Jaffray, which is also a pole treating plant, USW stated in a press release.

USW Local 1-405 got an 86% strike vote on September 18, served 72 hours strike notice on Monday, October 24 and were in mediation again on October 27.

“We have tried everything to get agreement on the major outstanding issues related to monetary and crucial collective agreement language, outside of strike action but have no options left,” said Doug Singer President of USW Local 1-405, based out of Cranbrook.

“The union has given the company a deadline of Monday, November 7, to have an agreement in place or we will take strike action,” said Singer. “We will get a fair collective agreement for our new members at Brisco, it’s just a matter of when,” concluded Singer.

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