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Kelowna  

Strike action imminent

Rotating strikes could begin Wednesday in the lumber industry after contract talks broke down.

A letter posted on the United Steel Workers (USW) Local 1-423 Facebook page by local president Pat McGregor said talks with the Interior Forest Labour Relations Association have broken down and strike action is imminent.

Provincial mediator Dave Schaub was booked out Friday when talks between the two parties reached a stalemate.

The USW represents thousands of workers in Kelowna, Kamloops, Cranbrook and Prince George.

According to the letter, the USW in the southern region have been in a legal strike position since Nov. 3, but agreed to mediation Nov. 2 in an effort to kick start talks that had stalled after months of negotiating.

The collective agreement covering workers in the northern and southern regions expired on June 30, 2018.

“After making some very significant moves to break the logjam between the two parties, the industry still insisted on keeping concessions on the table and dictating conditions on bargaining,” said Bob Matters, USW staff and lead negotiator.

Workers in the northern region have been in a legal strike position since Oct. 6 and strike action is expected to begin in a few days.



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