Interior Forest Labour Relations is not happy about the rotating strikes launched by forest workers in the Kamloops area.
President Jeffrey Roos says good progress was being made on a new contract for the more than 3,000 forestry workers when the United Steelworkers Union pulled the pin on job action on two members.
Roos was asked about high lumber prices and the demands from the union for more money.
“It’s a good question, there certainly have been some good market conditions leading into the summer months. But this is a global industry with B.C. having some very unique challenges, including duties of 20 per cent that’s imposed by the U.S. government, some significant log costs, very limited supply, and we are competing with producers internationally,” Roos says.
“So we want a fair contract that is fair for employees and the industry.”
The current contract between IFLR and the United Steelworkers expired on July 1, and there are no further talks planned.
Forest workers in Castlegar and Grand Forks began rotating strikes on Monday.