Forestry

Workers excluded from Quebec government’s forestry roundtables

Unions representing workers in Quebec's forestry sector say the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (MRNF) is going in the wrong direction for forestry sector consutlations.

Unifor, United Steelworkers, the Centrale des syndicats démocratiques (CSD) and the Fédération de l'industrie manufacturière (FIM-CSN) were united in their denounciation of the MRNF’s process announced during a press conference held on February 7 in Saguenay Quebec.

Unifor is disappointed by indefinite curtailment of Crofton mill

VANCOUVER-Unifor is calling for an immediate response by all levels of government to support the Vancouver Island forestry sector following Paper Excellence’s announcement to curtail operations at its Crofton pulp mill indefinitely.

“An indefinite curtailment is an immeasurable loss for too many workers and their families who deserve so much better from Paper Excellence,” said National President Lana Payne. “These companies must be held to account and Canada and B.C. must support a value-added forestry industry that creates good, union jobs for generations to come.”

$19M in government funding for Crofton mill and nothing to show for it

CROFTON—The fourth consecutive curtailment at the Paper Excellence paper mill in Crofton will keep more than 100 workers laid off and the community left wondering why they have nothing to show for $19 million in public funding from two levels of government.

The new curtailment will reportedly extend to the end of February 2024.

Unifor members at Kruger Wayagamack end strike

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.