Press Release
A new long-term labour deal between EACOM and Unifor has resulted in EACOM formally announcing this week that it will re-start the Ear Falls sawmill in the spring.
The sawmill has been idled since Dec. 7, 2009 during the height of the U.S. housing crash.
“Local MPP Sarah Campbell and Natural Resources [minister] David Orazietti have been very supportive in ensuring EACOM was also able to secure the necessary softwood volume to run the sawmill at full capacity once operational,” noted Unifor national representative Stephen Boon.
The Ear Falls sawmill will produce more than 150 million board feet of stud lumber annually, with up to 125 Unifor members at the sawmill site and up to 175 more Unifor members in log harvesting and hauling operations in the Trout Forest.
In the final year of this new contract, top maintenance rates of pay will reach just over $37/hour, with top production rates of pay exceeding $32/hour.
“We have maintained an excellent working relationship with EACOM during this entire process and we are extremely pleased to have reached a solid, long-term deal that contains what may be some of the best language and compensation of any sawmill in eastern Canada,” noted Boon.
“While conservative politicians like Tim Hudak continue their right-wing, republican attacks to drive down wages in this province by attacking organized labour, this is just one more good example of how traditional and free collective bargaining can not only secure large industrial investment in our region but, most importantly, ensure our communities gain high-paying, secure union jobs that will support hundreds of middle-class families,” he added.
The new contract, in place from the 2014 spring start-up until May 1, 2022, features wage increases of 20 percent over the eight years.
It also includes a new DC Pension plan, a $750 annual tool allowance for trades, a $200 boot allowance, $275 for prescription eye glasses, and one additional stat holiday.
There is strong language related to seniority, layoffs, postings, bumping, and contracting out.
