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Union says Western Forest Products refuses to budge from ‘unreasonable concessions’

According to a press release, both parties met on Oct. 16, 18, 19, and 20.
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United Steelworkers members on the picket line of the Western Forest Products facility at Menzies Bay, just north of Campbell River, on Aug. 26, 2019. Mirror File Photo

Talks between Western Forest Products (WFP) and the United Steel Workers Local 1-1937 (USW) have stalled once again.

The USW issued a three-page press release on how the negotiations went, stating that WFP “squandered an opportunity to reach a Collective Agreement… by refusing to move off its unreasonable, unwarranted and unacceptable concessions.”

According to the release, both parties met on Oct. 16, 18, 19, and 20, but progress was only made on issues “that had no cost implications for WFP.”

Black Press reached out to WFP for comment on the negotiations and received this response.

“We are aware of the update issued by the USW,” stated WFP Representative Babita Khunkhun. “Western believes that the best place for these discussions to occur is at the bargaining table and we remain available for mediation later this week.”

Read the full press release from the USW below

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