Forestry

ESPANOLA, Ont.-Nearly 350 Unifor members and their families are grappling with the news of a year-long curtailment of the Domtar mill in Espanola, Ontario.

VANCOUVER–Members of Unifor Local 1132 at the Crofton mill in British Columbia received notice on Monday, August 28 that the scheduled restart of the mill, slated for the end of the month, has been delayed by at least another 30 days, leaving workers and their families in the lurch.

Unifor has joined the movement to grow diversity, equity, and inclusion in forestry. By participating, the union will support the work of provincial governments, corporations and communities to make forestry an industry where everyone feels welcome.

The 200 members of Unifor Locals 222Q and 216 at Kruger Wayagamack, a paper mill in Trois-Rivières, Que. ratified a new agreement by 92.3% (222Q) and 93.4% (216) on June 19, ending a three-week strike.

“The members of the negotiating committees are very happy with the result,” said Joël Vigeant, National Representative and Forestry Coordinator for Unifor Québec. “It's not easy to decide to go out on strike, but battles are worth fighting. We had clear expectations, and those expectations were met.”

Workers at Kruger Wayagamack began their strike on June 1.

Unifor members working at Produits Forestiers Résolu in Quebec ratified tentative agreements the week of May 26, 2023, covering 10 contracts.

Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier, who was present throughout the negotiations, said this new contract is a major step for workers in the forestry industry.

"Unifor members can now look to the future with confidence, knowing that their rights and professional interests are protected by strong and fair agreements," he said.

TROIS-RIVIERES, QUE. – Unifor members working for Kruger Wayagamac Inc. paper mill went on strike beginning June 1, at 12 p.m.

Unifor began negotiations with the employer on May 23 over a 10-day period, but union rejected the company’s latest offer.

The workers are demanding better working conditions, particularly improved wages.

"We have reached the salary negotiation phase, and the employer is failing to meet our demands and priorities,” said Joël Vigeant, Unifor National Representative and Forestry Coordinator for the union.

Groupe de Scieries (GDS) declared a lockout at four eastern Quebec mill locations, following a 24-hour strike at the company’s Matane plant on May 18. 

Workers at the Matane plant have been working without a contract since 2022 and during negotiations decided to escalate pressure on the employer by declaring a 24-hour strike. The decision came after the employer submitted its offer.

More than 1,000 people gathered on March 18, 2023, in Saint-Félicien, Que., for a rally organized by Unifor to raise questions to the provincial government on the upcoming strategy to stop the decline of woodland and mountain caribou populations.

"We are marching today because there is a lot of uncertainty about the plan that the government wants to put in place,” said Daniel Cloutier, Unifor Quebec Director.

VANCOUVER- Unifor welcomes the B.C. government’s new plans to double the B.C. Manufacturing Jobs Fund and to support job growth across the province.

CROFTON, B.C.—The combined investments of the David Eby government, the federal government and Paper Excellence will help recall more than 100 workers at the pulp and paper mill in Crofton.