The Okanagan could be home to another strike, with lumber employees potentially setting up picket lines next week.
This, after Canada Post employees in Kelowna walked off the job for the second time in three weeks on Friday to set up 24-hour picket lines.
According to the United Steelworkers, contract talks have broken down with the Interior Forest Labour Relations Association (IFLRA), an organization that represents forestry employers. The United Steelworkers represents approximately 2,600 workers in southern British Columbia, according to union Local 1-423 Kelowna.
“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 of the USW.
The letter also said three days of mediation in Kelowna, November 14th to 16th, failed to produce an agreement. Provincial mediator Dave Schaub was reportedly booked late Friday night “after talks broke down between the two parties.”
South region workers, according to the letter, will be in official strike position on Wednesday morning, November 21st, at 10 a.m.
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