Alberta's Lakeside Packers has reached a tentative deal with its striking union, three weeks into an acrimonious dispute at the country's largest meat packing plant.

The company and the United Food and Commercial Workers came to an agreement Tuesday night, after negotiating for 12 hours – the first talks between the two sides in months.

UFCW local 401 president Doug O'Halloran said a group of local ranchers and the RCMP asked the union to try to restart negotiations, and it in turn approached Tyson on Friday. O'Halloran said there was some concern about a possible beef boycott the union was considering.

Deal reached after three weeks of dispute

The ratification vote will be held Friday, with workers getting their first look at the deal – which represents their first contract with Lakeside – Thursday.

Striking employees will continue to picket until the votes are counted.

O'Halloran said he expects the deal to be ratified with about 60 per cent of members voting in favour.

And he said it will take time to mend fences between those who walked the picket line and those who crossed.

"The heated moments are not going away overnight," O'Halloran said.

The strike, which has become volatile and violent at times, began Oct. 12, when hundreds of workers walked off the job at the plant near Brooks, Alta. They say they want more money and more respect in the workplace. They're looking for their first contract with Tyson Foods.

While hundreds of UFCW members turn up to picket each day, hundreds of others show up willing to cross the picket line and go to work, creating tension on the line and throughout the community.

Numerous charges have been laid against people on both sides of the dispute – including Lakeside managers and the president of the UFCW local. Brooks RCMP are still investigating other complaints.

Charges have been laid for assault, dangerous driving, vandalism and committing an indecent act.

Lakeside and its parent company, Tyson Foods, went to court and to the labour board a number of times, getting limits placed on how many workers can attend the picket line and how long they can stop cars.

It also went to court to order meat inspectors to return to work, after they had refused to cross the picket line citing safety concerns, an action that stopped production at the plant for three days.