Negotiations to end a strike by grain terminal workers in Metro Vancouver have stalled, with the employers含羞草研究社� association saying it含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社渄isappointed含羞草研究社� with the results of two days of talks.

A statement from the Western Grain Elevator Association says the employer bargaining unit had increased its offer to settle 含羞草研究社渙utstanding issues,含羞草研究社� but that was rejected.

Picket lines went up at six grain terminals in Metro Vancouver Tuesday after the negotiators for about 600 employees with the Grain Workers Union Local 333 said the employers含羞草研究社� group had not 含羞草研究社渕eaningfully engaged含羞草研究社� in a dozen days of bargaining.

The statement from the Western Grain Elevator Association says the employers made a generous offer on wages 含羞草研究社渃learly ahead of the last six years含羞草研究社� of inflation curve.含羞草研究社�

Now, it says grain terminal companies have reached the end of their 含羞草研究社渇inancial ability to conclude an agreement that industry can absorb.含羞草研究社�

The statement says it will now be up to the mediator to report to the Minister of Labour Steven MacKinnon, who had directed the two sides to go back to the bargaining table with the help of a federal mediator.

The Grain Workers Union did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the situation.