Hundreds of unionized workers at a uranium mine and a processing mill in remote northern Saskatchewan have voted in favour of a strike to back contract demands.

The workers include 535 employees of Cameco’s McArthur River mine (289 workers) the Key Lake mill (246 workers).

The United Steelworkers Union Local 8914 says 92 per cent of those who cast ballots voted for a labour disruption to bolster their position at the bargaining table.

Negotiations are scheduled to wrap up Aug. 28 and the union says if there’s no progress by then, the membership has authorized a strike, which has never occurred before at a Cameco mine.

“There has been a strike mandate vote of 92 per cent with further talks concluding Aug. 28,” said Mike Pulak, United Steelworkers staff representative in Saskatoon, in a release. “If no progress by that date the membership has authorized strike action.”

Negotiators for the company and the union have been meeting since November 2013. The last deal, a four-year contract, expired Dec. 31, 2013.

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