DRYDEN — New contracts for more than 450 Dryden mill and woodlands workers have been approved.
Unifor members on Thursday voted to ratify the three tentative agreements that had been reached with Domtar.
The workers include which consists of 225 wood harvesters, truckers, road construction workers and chipping employees, along with mill administration and maintenance workers.
"As indicated by the extremely high vote results, Unifor members in Dryden were very pleased with the improvements and significant wage gains negotiated with Domtar last week," Unifor national representative Stephen Boon said. "All three deals achieve Unifor’s Eastern Canada pulp and paper pattern and the total monetary packages contain some of the largest monetary improvements in the forest sector in over 35 years
Boon said earlier this week that during negotiations Unifor’s Eastern Canada Pulp and Paper Pattern was a non-negotiable element for Domtar. The Pulp and Paper Pattern provided members with a hefty pay raise and benefits package.
The contracts include salary adjustments of $2.50 per hour for all production members and $3.50 per hour for members in the trades over the term. They will also get additional general wage increases which total 22 per cent to 24 per cent over the term of the agreements.
Additionally, members will receive a $0.10 per hour night and evening shift premium increase, double time for Sunday overtime after four hours, and a third week of vacation after two years of service.
There are also significant enhancements to their group benefits packages including vision, dental and orthodontics, life insurance, eye surgery, and improvements in short and long-term disability.
"These agreements provide long-term stability for Domtar or any potential buyer of the mill, but most importantly, these deals address the soaring cost of inflation impacting Unifor members and their families in Dryden and Ear Falls," Boon said.
"The timing couldn't be better as instead of preparing for strike votes and a further escalation of bargaining set to begin in the New Year, we are extremely pleased that 450 Unifor families in Dryden and Ear Falls can instead focus on holiday festivities and four years of prosperity under these historic agreements."
