05:24 PM EDT, 05/28/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Unifor Local 3018 on Tuesday said it will launch a legal strike action against Taseko Mines' ( TGB ) Gibraltar Mine if a fair settlement cannot be reached before midnight on Friday, when its current contract expires.

Members of Local 3018 voted 98% in favour of a strike if a contract could not be achieved before the deadline. Unifor represents 550 workers at the copper mine north of Williams Lake in British Columbia.

Unifor's negotiators said despite several weeks of meetings, the company has failed to make meaningful proposals at the bargaining table.

"With the rising cost of living it's crucial that our members at Gibraltar receive fair wages, strong safety protocols, and equitable treatment on the job," said Unifor National President Lana Payne, in a statement.

Taseko owns the Gibraltar copper-molybdenum mine in British Columbia, the second largest open-pit copper mine in Canada.