Steelworkers Reach Deal with CONIFER Group

Tuesday, August 17, 2010 03:55 PM

Prince George, B.C.- The United Steelworkers (USW) BC Interior Bargaining Committee has reached a tentative agreement with the Council on Northern Interior Forest Employment Relations (CONIFER), an industry association that employs about 2,000 USW Local 1-424 and 1-425 members.

USW Wood Council Chair Bob Matters says full details of the tentative agreement will be provided to members at series of ratification meetings in the weeks ahead.

In general, the four-year agreement, expiring on July 1, 2013, enhances job security, improves health and welfare benefits, stabilizes the long-term disability plan, and improves contract language on permanent and partial closures of lumber manufacturing operations.

In addition to general wage increases in the third and fourth year, a trades rate adjustment has been negotiated. A profit pay plan is included that may provide workers additional compensation as the forest industry recovers.

CONIFER represents the following employers and respective mill sites: Abitibi-Bowater - Site No.1 in Mackenzie; Abitibi-Bowater - Site No.2 in Mackenzie; Conifex in Fort St. James: Dunkley Lumber Ltd. in Hixon: Hampton Affiliates - Babine Forest Products in Burns Lake; Lakeland Mills Ltd. in Prince George; Tolko Industries Ltd. - Soda Creek in Williams Lake; Tolko Industries Ltd. - Lakeview in Williams Lake; Tolko Industries Ltd. - Creekside in Williams Lake; Tolko Industries Ltd. - Questwood in Quesnel; West Fraser - West Fraser Planer in Williams Lake; Winton Global - Prince George Planer in Prince George; and Winton Global - Hart Sawmill in Bear Lake.

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Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 03:55 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: opinion10 on August 18 2010 3:30 AM

good to see a contract has finally been worked out. wonder what the "improved language on permanent and partial closures" really means? the employees at the former rustad and winton mills probably want to hear they get their severance now. word from canfor is rustad will not reopen due to trucking log costs, enviroment issues and lease costs to cn to name a few. as for winton, they have sold off around a year and a half of their timber to dunkley. hard to operate with no logs i think. well maybe the guys will get their severance after all. dont hold your breath though, there is probably some hidden clause in this contact that will benefit the companies long before its employees when it comes to severance!

Posted by: Eagleone on August 18 2010 11:57 PM

I thought after a mill was down for a year they had to pay out the severance, and then didn't have to hire back union members when they reopen? Makes for some strange situations for some of these companies.