A refurbished sawmill in Ignace remains silent after management and union broke off negotiations. The Bowater lumber mill was set to start up July 2 after a recent expansion and refurbishment project.
Despite the help of a concilliator, talks between management and Industrial Wood and Allied Workers of Canada Local 2693 broke down. No talks were scheduled in early August.
Bowater acquired the mill in November 2000 with improvements made to boost lumber productivity from 30 million board feet to 85 million board feet including two-by-fours and two-by-sixes sold to home and garden retailers.
Union officials say a major sticking point behind the impending strike is the company's insistence on contracting out work.
