Babine Forest Product鈥檚 workers, along with other sawmill workers in northern B.C., are ready to go on strike.

READ MORE: Steelworkers union issues strike notice affecting 1,500 mill workers in northern B.C.

READ MORE: Sawmill workers vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike

United Steelworkers Local 1-2017, which represents more than 1,500 forestry workers in B.C., issued a 72-hour strike notice on Oct. 3.

鈥淎s of Saturday [Oct. 6] the union is in a legal strike position,鈥� explained union president Brian O鈥橰ourke last week. 鈥淗owever, that is a decision that shall be made at the appropriate time; just because notice is served we do not have to act upon it.鈥�

Babine Forest Products鈥� workers are represented in bargaining by the Council on Northern Interior Forest Employment Relations (Conifer).

Conifer and the union have been engaged in collective bargaining since May 29 , 2018. The parties have spent fifteen days in negotiations, culminating with five full days of mediation at the end of September.

鈥淲e had the assistance of a mediator for five days and we didn鈥檛 make any headway,鈥� O鈥橰ourke told Black Press.

The union believes the employers should come to the bargaining table better prepared to address the workers鈥� issues, given the strong lumber market.

Lumber prices have been high despite the imposition of U.S. import duties in February 2017, upheld by the U.S. Commerce Department in December at an average level of more than 20 per cent. Prices hit record levels in June, pushed by seasonal impact of the 2017 forest fires, severe winter weather and strong demand from the U.S. housing market.

The union has proposed changes to the collective agreement that include leave for members struggling with domestic violence and pension funding improvement.

Steve Zika, chief executive officer of Hampton Lumber, which owns Babine Forest Products, said he鈥檚 still hopeful that a settlement can be negotiated.

鈥淣o one wishes for a strike,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 would rather remain optimistic and not speculate on the effects of a strike by the union.鈥�

Mills in Houston, Fort St. James and Prince George could also be affected.

Conifer released a statement Thursday saying they were disappointed the union has chosen to issue a strike notice.

鈥淭here are a few topics requiring resolution in order to realize a tentative agreement between Conifer and the United Steelworkers,鈥� said Mike Bryce, Conifer鈥檚 executive director. 鈥淲e are optimistic that a resolution to the outstanding topics can be achieved.鈥�

鈥� With files from Tom Fletcher