sawlogs, pulplogs, pulp, wood, panels, plywood, mdf, osb, chipboard, veneer, bulk, pallets, wood, timber B.C. Interior sawmill negotiations are continuing

   Moscow. Aug 07, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. Negotiations are continuing, albeit slowly, in British Columbia's Interior sawmill sector, ForestTalk reported.

Another session is scheduled for 3 days next week in Williams Lake between the United Steelworkers and an industry group representing companies like Dunkley Lumber and Lakeland Mills. It is the third session with the Council on Northern Interior Forest Employment Relations (CONIFER) -- which also represents Carrier Lumber, Tolko and Hampton Affiliates -- and will follow a negotiating session three weeks ago in Prince George.

The existing 6 year contract that covered 10,000 unionized workers in the Interior ended on June 30.

The union has indicated it is looking for wage increases and a shorter contract, while forest companies are seeking concessions.

CONIFER hasn't revealed what, if any, concessions it is seeking. Canfor is seeking significant labour cost reductions of $50 million.

More than 3,500 forest workers have lost their jobs in northern B.C. in the past two years as companies have shut down mills indefinitely, cut shifts and reduced work weeks.