MONTREAL, May 1, 2018 /CNW/ - Unifor members have voted 74 percent in favour of the tentative agreement with Resolute Forest Products that will set the pattern agreement for the pulp and paper industry in Eastern Canada.
"Forestry is Canada's third most valuable export sector and represents 10 percent of all of our exports" said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "This contract ensures fairness for forestry workers, which in turn sustains small communities across the region."
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).
"In the current context, we can say we've obtained a good deal," said Renaud Gagné, Unifor Quebec Director. "The gains we negotiated will allow us to meet the challenges of retaining and renewing the workforce by ensuring good-quality jobs. Over the coming weeks, we will be negotiating our collective agreements with the other employers in the forestry industry."
The agreement approved by members will set the monetary pattern for bargaining in the other pulp and paper mills in Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic region. In all, some 15,000 members will be affected by the pattern agreement.
Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.
SOURCE Unifor
For information in English: Ian Boyko, Unifor Communications Representative, [email protected] or 778-903-6549 (cell). For information in French: Marie-Andrée L'Heureux, Unifor Communications Representative, [email protected] or 514 916-7373.
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