Prince George, B.C- The 480 members of PPWC Local 9 have a new four year agreement with Canfor.

 

Sixty percent of the membership voted on the package and approved it by 53%.

 

That’s a very tight vote, and Local President Frank Robertson says there were a couple of reasons for that “There were some who were concerned the wage increase wouldn’t be enough and there were some local issues.”

 

The agreement gives the workers increases of 2%, 2.5%, 2.5% and 3% over the four year term. It also provides what Robertson says are “substantial gains in health and welfare benefits and in the retiree benefit levels.”

 

This is an agreement that will be used as the template for other mills, with that in mind, Robertson says this is a very balanced agreement “I say balanced because it balances the needs of the industry and provides gains for our members.”