Resolute Forest Products sawmill in Thunder Bay. Courtesy Resolute Forest Products
An extension of a current agreement between Unifor 5025 members and Resolute Forest Product’s Thunder Bay Sawmill will go until 2028.
More than 200 workers agreed to reopen the current contract and extend it for another four years.
Included in the extension is an additional 24% average pay raise, overnight premiums increase as well as a new Unifor role called the “Unifor Women’s Advocate role”
The key terms of the new deal include the following:
- Salary adjustments of $2.50/hour for all production members and $3.50/hour for members in the trades over the term;
- Additional General wage increases of 3% in the 2024, $1.30/hour in the 2025, 3% in the 2026 and $1.30/hour in the 2027;
- In total, total wages will increase an additional 24% average over the new 4 year contract extension;
- Significant enhancements to group benefits (vision, dental, life and long-term disability);
- Night and Evening Shift Premium increased by $0.10/hour;
- A third week of vacation after 2 years of service;
- Double time for Sunday overtime after 4 hours;
- Union representatives will have a paid 30 minute period to meet with new members;
- New Unifor Women’s Advocate role
The Unifor Eastern Canada Pulp and Paper Pattern Agreement is a model contract for Unifor forestry operations which allows for items such as wages, benefits and pensions to be negotiated at a common table.
The 2022 to 2026 model was bargained with Resolute in May and served as a basis for negotiation with all other employers in the forest industry.
Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector and represents 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy, including 24,000 in the forestry sector.
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