Steelworkers Reach Deal with CONIFER

Friday, September 03, 2010 04:57 PM

Prince George, B.C. - The United Steelworkers have reached a contract agreement with CONIFER group companies which includes Conifex, Hampton, Lakeland and Winton Global.

The 4 year agreement provides for a 2% wage increase in years three and four of the deal, and improved health and welfare benefits.

The real plus for this package may be the signal for the restart of the former Abitibi Bowater sawmill and planer mill in Mackenzie. That mill is now owned by Conifex and the finalization of a contract with the workers was viewed as one of the remaining steps that needed to be taken before that mill can restart operations.

While the Steelworkers have yet to hear of an official restart date for that facility, Local 1-424 President Frank Everitt says it is hoped that when the mill restarts, it will provide one shift at the sawmill and planer mill employing a total of 70 people.

The Steelworkers hope to wrap up contract negotiations with Tolko and Dunkley Lumber some time next week.

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Posted on Friday, September 03, 2010 04:57 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: mythoughts on September 3 2010 5:56 PM

What good is a contract with Winton Global when they have next to no hope of ever opening? Seems kinda silly. The union has done absolutely nothing for those workers since it closed 2.5 years ago.

Posted by: onemansthoughts on September 3 2010 6:29 PM

Since when does the mill have to sighn up with the union to start up? No wonder they cant get off the ground in Mckenzie. And
Terrace, and Kitimat. Sad to see jobs lost.

Posted by: detoe43 on September 4 2010 7:29 AM

Lucky ex-Wintonites. Now they have 2 more years to wait for a severance package that is probably non-existant. Hey Steelworkers
can you say S-E-L-L-O-U-T....

Posted by: Red1 on September 4 2010 11:10 AM

One would have to wonder what good is seniority retention to a mill that will never reopen. Kind of like owning a nice new shiney pair of mags for a car that you will never own (USELESS). Frank Everitt, the employee's of Winton Global have moved on, they had no choice it was either that or starve.You say Greg Stewart said he has intentions of reopening Winton Global,yet still two years later nothing. The employee's would like what they deserve ,their severance pay. We have all been served termination notices and now with this new contract WOW we all got letters that we got our so called jobs back.The only problem is the pay isn't to good $0.Frank, it's simple, get a date for start up or get us our severance.