It's been slow going in contract talks between Forest Labour Relations and the Southern Interior Steelworkers Union.
The union represents sawmills including Tolko here in Kelowna.
The union's northern branch has reached a tentative deal with sawmill operations, and are in the process of cleaning up the details.
"In the meantime, we thought we'd get back to the table with the employer down here in the south, and try and finish off a deal for our members," says Steelworkers local president Pat McGregor. He says his team has asked for a mediator.
They hope to be bargaining again by early May.