Rankin Inlet (May 24/06) - Union and Ekati diamond mine negotiators will head back to the bargaining table in Edmonton tomorrow to try and settle the strike, now in its eighth week.

Crediting its negotiating team for opening the window to further negotiations was Public Service Alliance of Canada executive regional vice president Jean-Francois Des Lauriers.

"I believe given the opportunities to talk to each other in Edmonton (to resolve a pension dispute last week) the employer saw the opportunity to resume negotiations," he said Tuesday, reiterating the union's stance that it was always ready to go back to the bargaining table.

"There was good communication on our part that gave the impetus."

In a press release, Ekati mine owner BHP Billiton states that the company received notice that the union would like to present a counter proposal, with vice-president of human relations Roy Lenardon assuring that "a reasonable counter proposal" would be considered.

BHP spokesperson Deana Twissell said it's premature to talk about what the talks on Thursday and Friday would amount to.

"Until we meet with them and receive their counter offer we can't really comment at all," she said.

"Their counter offer will determine whether or not it's a genuine intention to solve the dispute."

Twissell added that the company hopes any counter offer from the union would take into consideration the company's "aboriginal relationships, socio-economic agreements and our Northern commitments we've made in those agreements."