Steelworkers, West Fraser Reach Tentative Deals in Northern Interior

BURNABY, BC, Oct. 15 /CNW/ - The United Steelworkers (USW) has concluded a series of tentative agreements with West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in the BC northern interior.

Members of USW Locals 1-424 and 1-425 members will vote on the agreements over the next 2-3 weeks.

USW Wood Council Chair Bob Matters says full details of the tentative agreements will be provided by the local unions.

The latest agreements, reached Thursday for plywood plants in Quesnel and Williams Lake, follow agreements reached for sawmills in Houston and Fraser Lake on Wednesday. In the first week of October an agreement was reached at the company's sawmill in 100 Mile House.

In general, terms of the four-year contract, expiring on June 30, 2013, enhance job security, improve health and welfare Benefits, stabilize the long-term-disability plan and improve contract language regarding permanent and partial closures of manufacturing operations.

In addition to a $250 signing bonus and general wage increases in the third and fourth years, a trades rate adjustment has been negotiated. As well, a profit pay plan may provide workers additional compensation as the forest industry recovers.

"This is a good collective agreement which builds on the agreement our members ratified with CONIFER (Council on Northern Interior Forest Employment Relations) member companies in August," says Matters.

USW Local 1-417 members employed at West Fraser's Chasm sawmill are covered by negotiations with the IFLRA (Interior Forest Labour Relations Association) that will resume on October 26.

"We expect that, in short order, the IFLRA will agree to the pattern agreement model that we have reached in the BC interior," Matters says.

For further information:

Bob Matters, 604-683-1117 or 604-996-4476