Prince George, B.C. – Officials from the Village of McBride and the Service, Health, Manufacturing and Allied Workers Union, CLAC Local 501, will meet in Prince George today in the hopes of hammering out their first collective agreement.

This after eight employees of McBride and McBride Community Forests voted to strike last week.

Under Section 55 a positive strike vote allows the BC Labour Relations Board to intervene and assist the parties in reaching an agreement.

CLAC bargaining agent Audrey Wilkinson told 250News last week they’ve been trying unsuccessfully to reach an agreement ever since the workers certified as a union last March.

“We’ve offered to meet with the mayor and council to try and get some dialogue going to resolve the issues and they flat out said no way.”

She says there are eight outstanding issues including wages and benefits.