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After a week on strike, the 650 members of Unifor Local 233 in Temiscaming, Quebec, have ratified a new collective agreement that addresses many concerns with discipline and tense labour relations.
“Thanks to the shift in the company’s attitude and the fact that representatives of senior management joined the talks at the bargaining table, we were able to break this impasse,” said Local 233 President Roger Gauthier.
Labour relations have been tense over the past few years, with disciplinary measures being a major irritant for the members. The new contract introduces several adjustments to the clauses governing discipline. Members also made a catch-up gain of 2.4% in vacation time, compensating for concessions made in the previous contract. The four-year contract, which contains elements of the pattern deal reached earlier this year with Resolute Forest Products, includes annual salary increases of two per cent, a lump-sum payment of $1,000 and contributions to the Paid Education Leave program.
