United Steelworkers and the Forest Labour Relations Association are returning to the bargaining table next week. The union has been in a legal position to strike since the middle of last November when mediation talks broke down. Before Christmas, the union held five rotating strikes at different sawmills in the Southern Interior. So far, there has not been a shutdown at the big Tolko mill in downtown Kelowna.
United Steelworkers Kelowna President Pat McGregor says the talks will happen in our city on January 15-16--17. He says union negotiators enter these sessions encouraged by the fact that it was the companies that made the invitation. The union is hoping for an improved offer.
Forest Labour Relations represents a number of sawmills in the Southern Interior.