140 members of the Industrial Wood and Allied Workers Local 1-207 went on a first time strike in July against Weyerhauser Canada in Grande Cache.

The workers, organized since the mill opened in 1982, struck on July 19 and went back to work August 6, after successfully ratifying a collective agreement.

"It was about a whole bunch of issues," says IWA 1-207 President Mike Pisak. "Wages, pensions, contractors on site. It was about the company’s whole attitude to negotiations."

The ratified agreement is for three years and includes a two percent wage increase in each year of the contract. The workers were also able to achieve a number of important changes to language in the agreement. The agreement was not successful in addressing the outstanding pension issues.

"I would like to thank other union members for stopping by the picket line. We had a lot of support. I also want to thank unions across the province for their letters of support," says Pisak.