It's a Saskatchewan labour dispute that's heavy on the irony — about 60 workers who belong to one union are on the picket line against their employer, which happens to be another union.

On Nov. 6, workers with the Communications Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada Local 481 walked off the job and were locked out.

They're employed by the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees Union in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert.

They've been unable to reach an agreement after more than two years.
After a month on the picket lines, the parties don't seem closer to reaching an agreement.

Earlier this week, CEP national representative Kate McKinley was vowing to step up the pressure on SGEU president Bob Bymoen.

"Any place the SGEU sets up offices will be picketed by us from now on," McKinley said in a news release. "We have tried to be understanding and to let Bob Bymoen work in peace, but from now on, as long as he continues to reject all efforts to get back to the bargaining table, we will dog him day and night."

Bymoen told the Leader-Post that CEP's tactics are giving labour a "black eye."

Both unions are members of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, the most important labour organization in the province.

SFL president Larry Hubich says it's a bad situation for labour to be in and he's trying to help resolve it.

"There's been lots of phone conversations back and forth between me and the parties into the evenings and late at night and early in the morning," he said.

"You know it's a delicate situation that requires delicate work."

Earlier this week, a committee with the SFL suggested bringing in a third party to mediate, but that proposal didn't go anywhere.

CEP says it wants to get back to the table, while SGEU says it's waiting to hear from CEP.

In the meantime, Hubich said, he's waiting for either party to offer an alternative to this week's option, in the hopes the dispute can be resolved soon.