Service at the local Co-op locations in Moose Jaw will be impacted for the foreseeable future as the local union representing staff has issued a strike notice to their employer and then took to the picket lines Tuesday morning.

In a statement, the Co-op has expressed disappointment that UFCW Local 1400 has rejected the Company’s most recent offer, saying the main sticking point appears to be a two-tiered pay system.

General Manager Gerry Onyskevitch says they've offered a two per cent increase in each of the four years of the contract and a signing bonus in the first year but that was rejected.