About 700 workers at Finning International Inc. could go on strike if ongoing talks between the company and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers falter, Finning spokesman Mauk Breukels told Business in Vancouver June 20.
The union's contract with Finning (TSX:FTT) ended April 14 and negotiations for a new contract are set to continue.
"At 2 p.m., they were entitled to commence a strike," Breukels said a few minutes after 2 p.m. "It doesn't mean that they will actually start one. We've got talks scheduled. We don't comment on the timing of those talks but we're hoping that we can bring this to a satisfactory conclusion."
He said it was "very unlikely" a strike would happen immediately. And, in the worst-case scenario where there is a strike, the Vancouver-based company would not suffer a severe impact because most of its operations are based outside B.C.
"We have significant business in Western Canada but most of that is from Alberta," said Breukels, who is Finning's vice-president of investor relations and corporate affairs.
"Our oil sands parts distribution, the centre of excellence where we rebuild large equipment, the remanfuacturing centre for large components - that is all [in Alberta]," he said.
Edmonton remains the headquarters for the company's Canadian subsidiary and operations in South America are managed out of Santiago, Chile.
Breukels said a strike in B.C. would also not have a major impact on Finning business in the U.K. or Ireland.
Finning is the world's largest distributor of heavy equipment made by the U.S.'s Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT).
Glen Korstrom
Twitter: GlenKorstrom