After hitting the picket lines last week, employees at BURNCO were back to work Monday morning.

The small strike was over a new collective bargaining agreement between the company and the workers' labour union.

The Okotoks BURNCO used replacement workers to help fill the weekend void in order to serve its customers.

BURNCO Chief Executive Officer Michael Powell says he's relieved that everything is back to normal.

"It is great to have everyone back to work," he says. "Those disruptions are difficult particularly for the customers. It's just nice to have everybody back in place and working altogether again, and it's really all about serving the customer."

Powell says he's glad the workers came to an agreement sooner rather than later.

"They were out for four days. They came back on a voluntary basis on Friday and Saturday. We're back to normal again [and] we're glad it was short, but I think everyone realizes the times are tough."

Powell says even with the four day strike, it was hard to do business.

"The lines were respectful and such, but it slows things down and we weren't able to serve the customers the way we ordinarily do," he says. "Also those guys walking the picket lines, those are guys we rely on every day."

The Okotoks BURNCO, along with Airdrie, Cochrane, and two plants in Calgary, were among those involved with the strike.

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