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Four mills reject deal; bargaining continues

Workers at four interior sawmills have rejected a tentative collective agreement with CONIFER.

USW Local 1-2017 recently concluded the ratification votes for 13 operations covered by the CONIFER memorandum of agreement reached February 13 in Prince George. 

The local union met with the membership at Tolko Lakeview on March 20 and 23 regarding the memorandum that was rejected at that operation. Since then the union has scheduled a meeting with the employer and will resume bargaining April 10 in Williams Lake.

The three Canfor independent mills; Chetwynd, Polar and Plateau, have also completed their ratification vote. Chetwynd accepted the agreement and the other two operations rejected the proposed deal.

The employer spokesperson has contacted the local union to sit down with the operations that have rejected the agreement, however before the union meets with the employer the union will be holding meetings with the membership of the operations so that the members can voice their concerns and the union has a clear understanding of the issues before going back to bargaining with the employer.

The schedule dates for those meetings have not been set.

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