Unionized workers at the Highland Valley Copper Mine near Logan Lake have issued a 72-hour strike notice to their employer, Teck Resources.

The United Steelworkers Local 7619 issued the notice as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11, a move which was confirmed by Teck Resources about five hours later.

The strike notice comes as both parties are negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the previous agreement which expired just over three months ago, on Sept. 30, 2021.

Both Teck and the Steelworkers – which represents 1,048 mine workers – are set to meet with mediators this Friday, Jan. 14.

“The strike notice entitles the union to potentially begin strike action following the 72-hour strike notice period and 48 hours after the mediator reports to the Labour Relations Board,” Teck said, in a statement, noting the earliest that strike action could begin in Sunday, Jan. 16.

Highland Valley Copper is the largest open-pit copper mine in Canada, and it has been operational since 1962.

Teck Resources is hoping to expand the life of the mine to 2040, a 12-year extension to the current estimated closing date in 2028. That proposal, if successful, which would increase the average mine production by 31 per cent from 136,000 tonnes to 178,000 tonnes per day.