Forestry and timber workers in British Columbia have voted for strike action in a protracted dispute over benefits.
The strike, which would affect about 12,000 people, will go ahead if union negotiators decide to call a walkout.
Timber companies, including Weyerhaeuser, want to extend present work agreements despite employees’ concerns about pensions and the growing use of lower-cost contract labour.
Weyerhaeuser and several other firms have put forward changes to deal with rising costs and reducing timber supplies. They include a new labour agreement and re-equipping mills to process small logs.
Unions say the required changes could be made without cutting wages or benefits.
