PRINCE GEORGE, BC (From news reports) -- A tentative agreement between Canfor Pulp and unionized workers at its three Prince George pulp mills was reached Thursday.

It remains subject to ratification by the membership, represented by Public and Private Workers of Canada and Unifor, a process expected to take about two weeks.

PPWC vice president Gary Fiege declined to provide details saying it must first be presented to the union's members. However, he said the main issues were job security, wages and benefits.

Strike notice was never issued.

"It was actually a pretty good process," Fiege said. "Once we got down to bargaining seriously, things flowed along as we would've expected from both sides."

The previous contract ended on May 1 and the sides had been bargaining since April 26.

There are about 900 PPWC and Unifor members between the three pulp mills in the city.

If ratified, the four-year dea will set the pattern for 17 other pulp and paper mills in B.C. and Alberta.