A new four year deal has been ratified for unionized workers at Resolute Forest Products and Unifor is hoping that will set the bar for future negotiations.
The contract received 74% support, with the union stating it will ensure fairness for forestry workers, which in turn sustains small communities across the region.
It includes wage increases of 2% in the first two years and 2.5% the last two years as well as other wage adjustments.
Unifor Local National Representative Stephen Boon says about 575 members of Locals 105 and 324 will now be heading to the bargaining table in September in hopes of hammering out the same deal.
Those locals represent mill workers at Domtar in Dryden, Kenora Forest Products and Norbord in Barwick.
Highlights of the deal include:
· Wage increases of 2 percent the first two years and 2.5 percent the last two years;
· Wage adjustments of $0.40/hour for members working in production;
· Wage adjustments of $0.75/hour for skilled trades workers effective May 1, 2018, and of $0.50/hour effective May 1, 2021;
· Improvements to the pension plan and insurance benefits;
· Wage progression amendment entitling employees to receive 100% of their salary after 1,000 hours worked;
· Contribution of $0.02/hour to Unifor’s Canadian Community Fund (CCF).
