Press Release
More than 550 Unifor members in the Dryden-based Domtar pulp mill and Woodlands operations voted overwhelmingly in favour of new four-year deals last night.
Maintenance, production, and office employees in the pulp mill voted 97 percent in favour of the new deal, with harvesting, trucking, and chipping employees in the woodlands operations voting in favour by an 80 percent margin.
“We’re proud that these agreements meet all elements of Unifor’s Eastern Canada pulp and paper pattern,” said Unifor national president Jerry Dias.
Unifor established the Eastern Canada pulp and paper pattern last year when it reached a new collective agreement with Resolute Forest Products.
“We are pleased that Unifor’s Dryden mill and woodlands members not only resisted all concession demands once again, but they also achieved key improvements, including enhanced wages, benefits, and contract language” said Unifor national representative Stephen Boon.
Top woodlands pay will increase to $36/hour, with top pulp mill pay reaching about $41/hour by the final year of the deals.
The four-year deal—effective from Sept. 1, 2014 to Aug. 31, 2018—included two-percent annual wage increases and a $1,000 signing bonus.
There also were improved dental and health benefits, a $40 increase in boot allowance, and a $90 increase in vision coverage.
The deal also feature a new three cent per hour employer-paid education leave.
