Thousands of forestry workers in Kamloops are in limbo.
Contract talks between the United Steelworkers representing more than 3,000 workers in the Kamloops area and Interior Forest Labour Relations haven’t even started and the parties are already at the Labour Relations Board.
Kamloops President Marty Gibbons says the union filed a charge of unfair labour practice after the IFLRA disputed the union’s ratification process.
“Democracy is at the core of what we do and its so important that members democracy and their right to ratify is protected. The IFLRA is trying to dictate to us how ratification will be completed, which we object to. We are pretty sure they have no legal right to do that.”
The current contract expired July 1st.