More than 500 Domtar employees in Dryden and Ear Falls have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new four-year contract.
Unifor says the agreements contain some of the largest monetary increases in the forestry sector in almost two decades.
230-maintenance, production and office staff from Unifor Local 105 at the Dryden Pulp Mill voted 87% in favour of the deal, while another 275 wood harvesting, trucking and chipping employees from Local 325 voted 94% in favour.
The contract includes a 9% pay hike over the course of the deal as well as increases in vacation entitlement and improved seniority.
Unifor Local National representative Stephen Boon says the deals provide long term stability for Domtar, but most importantly, key language improvements and significant monetary gains.
The last collective bargaining agreement expired at the end of August.
Boon says there are a number of factors behind a quick resolution.
Boon says the forest industry has really rebounded in the past 10 years, with saw mills making money, Domtar doing well and pulp doing well.
He says the sector has now stabilized, the Canadian dollar is still in the 70-cent range, and overall it’s a pretty good economic time for forestry.
Boon adds the contract provides Domtar with labour stability and his members with a good solid contract.
Key Terms of New Domtar Mill and Woodlands Contracts:
-Top woodlands pay will increase to $40.60/hour with top pulp mill pay reaching almost $46/hour by the final year of the two deals.
-4 year term (September 1, 2018 to August 31, 2022)
-2%, 2%, 2.5%, 2.5% annual wage increases
-$.40 per hour additional wage increase for operations and production employees
-$1.25 per hour in additional pay for skilled trades over term
-Up to $2.70 per hour in additional wage adjustments for some pulp mill operators
-Increased woodlands commuting pay with up to an additional $1000 per year for drivers
-New Remembrance Day statutory holiday for all woodlands employees
-1% employer contribution to woodlands pension plan in final year of deal
-Mill retirees will receive a .2% pension indexation adjustment in 2021
-Increases in vacation entitlement, dental, life insurance, disability, vision, and bereavement leave
-Improved seniority, overtime and health and safety language in woodlands operations
-New 2 cent per hour employer contribution to Unifor Canadian Community Fund
