Western Forest Products (WFP) wants to go back to the bargaining table with the United Steel Workers Local 1-1937 (USW) employees as of Sept. 13.

WFP made the announcement on Wednesday, Sept. 4, via press release. Independent-mediator Vince Ready will be handling the negotiations.

鈥淲e look forward to resuming discussions with the USW to negotiate a collective agreement that creates certainty for our employees, while maintaining Western鈥檚 competitive position during this particularly challenging time for the forest industry,鈥� Don Demens, WFP President and CEO, noted in a statement. 鈥淚t is important that we resume operations to supply our customers who, through their purchases, create thousands of jobs in BC.鈥�

However, Brian Butler, USW president, said the union is waiting to hear back from Ready, who met with WFP on Sept. 7 for preliminary talks. What transpires there will determine whether the union will be at the table on Sept. 13, Butler said.

Quick facts about the strike:

* USW employees have been behind picket lines since July 1 when they issued a 72-hour strike notice following a 98.8 per cent vote among its members in favour of taking strike action.

* The USW have said its members started the job action because the company has not seriously addressed union proposals and continues to keep 鈥渕assive concessions鈥� on the bargaining table as both sides try to negotiate a new collective agreement.

* WFP confirmed that approximately 1,500 of the company鈥檚 hourly employees and 1,500 employees working for the company鈥檚 timberlands operators and contractors in B.C. went on strike.

* The strike affects all of the company鈥檚 United Steelworkers certified manufacturing and timberlands operations in B.C.

* WFP and the USW have been in negotiations since April for a new collective agreement to replace the prior five-year agreement that expired in mid-June.

* The BC Federation of Labour announced a 鈥渉ot edict鈥� July 11 on WFP in a show of solidarity with striking forest workers.

* On Aug. 20, WFP sent out an email to employees stating that the company is not obligated to provide benefits when a collective agreement is not in place. During the last strike on Vancouver Island in 2007, WFP covered employees鈥� benefits while they were on the picket line, and employees paid the company back.