CONIFER has walked away from contract talks with the United Steelworkers

Contract talks ended between the United Steelworkers and CONIFER today in British Columbia when CONIFER walked away from the bargaining table.

CONIFER, the Council on Northern Interior Forest Employment Relations, represents Carrier Lumber, Tolko and Hampton Affiliates.

The spokesman for the Steelworkers, Bob Matters, said “Conifer told us they were not prepared to continue and left the bargaining table”. Matters says other companies in the bargaining process have come with proposals, but that was not the case with Conifer “This is very frustrating, we had an agreed upon bargaining process and they changed that. It is unacceptable to us for them to demand the workers give, without telling us what it is they’re looking for.”

Matters said other companies at the bargaining table, were proposing cost cutting measures that included a wage roll back of 20%, but Matters says that was not the case with Conifer “Basically they want us to give them the farm.”

Bargaining on behalf of 10,000 workers through “pattern” bargaining, the Steelworkers say they have a commitment to seniority retention but that is the only item agreed upon.

Source:

Conifer Walks Away From Contract Talks (Opinion 250 News)