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DRYDEN – More than 500 Unifor members in the Dryden-based Domtar Pulp Mill and Woodlands operations have voted overwhelmingly in favour of new four-year collective agreements.
“Unifor has made it a priority to raise and equalize standards in the pulp and paper sector,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “I’m pleased to say that both of these contracts achieve the Eastern Canada Pulp and Paper Pattern established by our union in April.”
Last night, 230 maintenance, production and office employees from Unifor Local 105 at the Dryden Pulp Mill voted 87 per cent in favour of their new deal while 275 wood harvesting, trucking and chipping employees from Unifor Local 324 voted in favour by a 94 per cent margin.
"These contracts contain some of the largest monetary increases in the sector in almost two decades,” said George Smith, Unifor Local 324 President. “As indicated by the strong ratification results, our members were extremely pleased with the solid gains secured in these new collective agreements."
Top pay at Woodlands will increase to $40.60/hour with top pulp mill pay reaching almost $46/hour by the final year of the two deals.
“These agreements provide long term stability for Domtar, but most importantly, they achieve key language improvements and significant monetary gains for over 500 Unifor members in Dryden and Ear Falls,” said Stephen Boon, Unifor National Representative.
Key Terms of New Domtar Mill and Woodlands Contracts
- 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 commuting pay at Woodlands, 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
Unifor's Eastern Canada Pulp and Paper Pattern group includes 15,000 forestry members across Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. 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.
For more information, please contact Unifor Communications Representative Kathleen O’Keefe at @email or 416-896-3303 (cell).
