The Town of Watson Lake will lock out its 21 unionized workers for six hours on Monday.

Rick Rotondi, the town’s acting CAO, said in an interview this morning a notice was issued Thursday about the lockout, which was a decision of council in the town of about 1,500 people.

“It’s just a short lockout,” he said.

Workers are to return to work at 1 p.m. Monday following the action, which will begin at 7 a.m., Rotondi said.

If workers choose to take action after the lockout – such as striking – it would be their decision, he added.

In the notice, the town points to the 10 months the town and its unionized workers have been negotiating and unable to reach a new collective agreement.

The last agreement 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 Yukon Employees Union/Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) Local Y029 voted in favour of strike action, but have not acted on that yet.

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

Thursday’s notice states the town regrets “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 reads.

“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.”

Union officials have stated previously that, in general, workers are seeking a modest wage increase, an employee training plan, and assurances that staff are working within their job descriptions and have adequate time to rest between shifts.

In Thursday’s notice, the town stated one of its main concerns is service delivery to citizens, in particular that of protective services (fire and bylaw) and the parks and recreation department.

“The town believes that these two areas must provide beyond the normal ‘Monday to Friday 9 to 5’ window, and that such service delivery must be affordable,” the town’s notice reads.

“Though the town and union have discussed these concerns throughout the collective bargaining process, we have been unable to come to an agreement on how to best adjust the current collective agreement to permit affordable services over a broader timeframe throughout the week.”

A work stoppage by lockout or strike essentially means the collective agreement is no longer in effect, meaning the town can adjust the terms of employment “if it feels it must.”

The notice later reads the town will honour the terms and conditions of the agreement with the exception that it will schedule staff from protective services and parks and recreations “in such a manner as to provide more cost-effective services to the town and its citizens. It will also suspend the grievance and arbitration processes until such time as a new collective agreement is in place.”

Jack Bourassa, the regional executive vice-president for PSAC North, could not be reached for comment before press time this afternoon.