There will be a ski season at Mont Orford after all, despite last-minute disagreements between union representatives and the hill's owners.

Quebec Environment Minister Claude Béchard announced Wednesday that management and the union representing ski hill workers had reached an agreement, hours after he had issued an ultimatum to both camps to resolve their dispute or the government would intervene.

At first the Fédération des Travailleurs du Québec (FTQ), which represents the ski hill workers, protested Béchard's announcement, which they called premature because they had only brokered a verbal agreement.

But on Thursday, the FTQ said it had reached an 11th-hour deal with management on an agreement in principle that is satisfying to both sides. 

"The union is very happy, and very proud," FTQ spokesman Michel Murray told CBC.

The deal means workers will be back on the ski hill Friday to prepare the ground for the fast-approaching ski season, Murray said.

Labour dispute almost iced ski season

The ski hill owner, André L'Espérance, angered many in the area on Monday by announcing he was cancelling the ski season because of the ongoing labour disagreement with hill employees.

The ski station locked out its employees at the end of October because of rocky contract negotiations.

The current contract expires in spring 2007, and workers wanted to sign a new three-year agreement with wage hikes that would put them on par with employees at bigger ski hills such as Mont Tremblant.

The Mont Orford ski hill was reluctant to commit to a long-term contract because of the recreation centre's dicey future, now that Quebec has decided to sell part of the mountain for private development.