Crisis Looms as Union Serves WFP with 72-Hour Strike Notice

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Western Forest Products (WFP) and its contractors at certain B.C. operations have been served with 72-hour strike notice by the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1-1937 union. This follows the failure in reaching a new collective agreement with the union towards replacing the expired one. It must be noted that the prior collective agreement had expired in mid-June this year.

The cancellation of scheduled bargaining process by the union stalled the negotiation efforts between the two parties. Following this, WFP had requested to appoint a mediator to assist in negotiation process. However, the union has rejected any meeting with company management as well as the mediator.

Don Demens, President and CEO, WFP stated that the company is disappointed with the union’s decision to serve it with a notice. He hoped that the mediator would be able to get the parties back to the bargaining table so as to negotiate a new agreement, he added.