There seems to be no end in sight to the municipal workers' strike in Fort Smith, N.W.T.

The union turned down town council's offer to use an outside arbitrator, saying it isn't an offer at all.

Throughout the strike, some town councillors have been in a difficult position. Many councillors are also union members, and several of them were forced to cross the picket line yesterday to attend a town meeting

Chris Westwell, a town councillor and a Union of Northern Workers member, carried a sheet with him asking strikers to be reasonable and understanding of the position he is in.

"I don't think it’s fair at the end of the day. When it comes down to it, we are councillors for the entire municipality, we're here to represent everybody in the community," he said.

Town councillors could face penalties if union members lodge a complaint about them crossing the line to attend the meeting. That could put them in bad standing or they could be fined or removed from the union.

The union plans to hold a special meeting tonight, but it is not open to the media.

Landfill reopens

Since the strike started last week, the landfill was closed. Town workers were in charge of operating the landfill and also of monitoring the groundwater in the area to make sure no toxins leached into the water supply. The town also said that garbage in the area could attract bears and other predators.

The town argued that if the landfill is closed, it is a health and safety hazard. The Canada Industrial Relations Board agreed, so the town's acting senior administrative officer will operate the site.