FORT FRANCES — A group of forestry workers have a new contract.
The 150 members of Unifor Local 324-99 voted 88 per cent in favour of a new four-year collective agreement with West Fraser Timber’s Barwick-oriented strand board mill near Fort Frances.
The collective agreement will provide a salary adjustment of $2.50 per hour for all production workers and $3.50 per hour for trades over the four-year term. Some maintenance positions will also get up to 4.25 per cent in wage adjustment. This adjustment will amount to a total average wage increase of 23 per cent with top production rates of pay reaching $43.79 per hour and top trades pay to reach $51.60 per hour by the final year of the deal.
"As indicated by the overwhelming ratification results, our Local 324 members in Barwick were very pleased to secure a solid, long-term deal that achieves some of the largest wage increases ever negotiated at this mill. Under the terms of the contract ratified today, our members can look forward to 23 per cent in wage increases, $5,000 in lump sum payments and other key monetary and language improvements," said Unifor Local 324 president Katrina Peterson.
"We commend the perseverance of the bargaining committee and great work of our national union in once again successfully coordinating a historic round of pattern bargaining across Northwestern Ontario’s Forest sector.”
In addition to the wage increase, Unifor was able to secure increases to benefits on health spending, vision care and orthodontic coverage, a new maternity leave top-up program, and a $250 annual boot allowance.
“Unifor forestry Locals across Eastern Canada have had an extremely successful year bargaining some of the largest wage increases in the forest industry in almost 40 years," Unifor northern area director Stephen Boon said.
"With the ratification of this latest deal at West Fraser Timber, all 9 Unifor forestry local unions representing 1,400 members across Northwestern Ontario, have now successfully achieved Unifor's Easter Canada Pulp and Paper Pattern Agreement with wage increases ranging from 23 per cent to as high as 36 per cent over the 4-year term."
The new contract is retroactive to Aug. 1, 2022, and remains in place until July 31, 2026.
