The more-than 20 unionized employees in Watson Lake are on strike.

A lockout triggered by the town Monday morning ended at 1 p.m.

At that point, the 22 workers opted not to go back on the job, with their union, the Yukon Employees Union (YEU), thus commencing a general strike.

As union president Steve Geick explained in an interview Monday, the lockout results in the existing collective agreement no longer being in effect – thus stripping workers of full contract protection.

“With the collective agreement no longer in place, it is no longer safe for our members to return to work,” said Jack Bourassa, the regional executive vice-president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) North.

Last week, the town issued a notice around the lockout it was planning for Monday.

In it, the town pointed to the 10 months it and its unionized workers have been negotiating without being able to reach a new collective agreement.

The last deal ended in December 2015 after it had already been extended by a year. Talks to negotiate a new contract began in May 2016.

Early last month, the members of the YEU (PSAC) Local Y029 voted in favour of strike action, but had not acted on that yet.

The most recent round of talks broke off Feb. 13.

Last Thursday’s notice stated the town regretted “the need” to lock out the employees.

“It has done so because it requires a new, more cost-effective collective agreement that allows it to provide more services at a reasonable cost,” the notice read.

“It does, however, remain open to further negotiations with the union and is optimistic that a realistic settlement between the parties will be reached at some point in the future.

“In the meantime, the Town of Watson Lake continues to be focused on the needs and well-being of its citizens.”

Geick said Monday that going back to work after the lockout would essentially give the town carte-blanche to do as it wants.

“This is their decision,” he said of the union local’s strike action.

He noted the union has suggested going to binding arbitration on the outstanding matters, but that has been turned down by the town.

“We’ve obviously come to an impasse,” Geick said.

In an interview Monday afternoon, Watson Lake CAO Rick Rotondi said there’s a substantial cost and time of many months involved in binding arbitration to come to a resolution that neither side might be happy with.

“We don’t want to go down that road,” Rotondi said. He emphasized that the strike is not the decision town officials were hoping for from the union.

While the union and town are at odds, both sides added they’re hopeful a resolution can be found.

Rotondi said the town is willing to meet with the union.

Geick, meanwhile, emphasized the outstanding issues, largely around scheduling shifts, “isn’t the insurmountable.”

The striking staff will receive strike pay. As well, there is a national hardship fund members can apply to if they’re struggling financially.

Staff are picketing in front of town hall, and Geick said they’ve heard from many in the community expressing their support. He’s hoping residents of the community will contact mayor and council to voice their support as well.

Geick noted the union members may picket other locations operated by the town as well in the coming days.

Meanwhile, in cases of emergency situations, there is an essential services agreement in place that can call staff back on the job if required.

An estimated 1,460 people live in the southeast Yukon community.