Workers with Western Forest Products could be back to work after the company and United Steelworkers local 1-1937 reached a tentative agreement. (Wikimedia Commons)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

tenative deal

Tentative agreement reached to end seven month long strike

Feb 10, 2020 | 8:01 AM

NANAIMO — Negotiators representing Western Forest Products and United Steelworkers local 1-1937 have found enough common ground.

The two sides announced Monday, Feb. 10 they had reached a tentative agreement to end long-standing job action by around 3000 union employees on Vancouver Island and coastal B.C.

The agreement must still be ratified by local members however the bargaining committee will recommend acceptance.

“Our Union is extremely proud of our Members’ solidarity in this extended struggle to achieve a fair Collective Agreement with Western Forest Products and their associated Contractors,” local president Brian Butler said in a statement.

It is the first major positive step forward in a bitter strike that began in July.

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The tentative agreement was reached days after mediators Vince Ready and Amanda Rogers left the bargaining table, but were then re-appointed by the province with additional powers.

“This has been a particularly challenging time and I’m pleased that we were able to find common ground through the efforts of all involved,” WFP President and CEO Don Demens said in a release.

No details of the agreement have been made public.

A USW 1-1937 statement said members are expected to review and vote on the tentative agreement “in a timely manner”.

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