Unionized workers at Hecla Mining Co.'s Lucky Friday silver mine in Idaho rejected the company's proposed labor agreement.

In a secret ballot, members of the United Steelworkers Local 5114 voted against ratifying a tentative agreement that negotiators from the union and the company reached in November, opting instead to continue their strike, which began in March 2017.

In March 2018, the union also rejected a proposal to bring the dispute to arbitration. At the end of April, Hecla agreed to settle the unfair labor practice charge filed by the union, without any admission of fault.

With the union not returning to work, Hecla said Dec. 16 that it will hire more workers and contractors to bring the mine back to full production by late 2020.