CANADA (From news reports) -- Over 450 Unifor members in Dryden have voted overwhelmingly in favor of three new contracts with Domtar.
About 225 wood harvesting, trucking, road construction and chipping employees with Local 324 voted 100 per cent in favor of their new deal while 225 maintenance, production and office staff with Local 105 at the Dryden Pulp Mill voted 96 per cent in favor.
Unifor Local National representative Stephen Boon says the packages contain some of the largest monetary improvements in the forest sector in over 35 years and provide long-term stability for Domtar or any potential buyer of the mill.
Boon adds the deals address the soaring cost of inflation.
Top pay in the woodlands operations will increase to $49.28 cents an hour with top pulp pay reaching $55.26 cents an hour in the final year of the new contracts.
All agreements run until August 31, 2026.
Other highlights:
- 4 year term (September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2026);
- Salary adjustments of $2.50/hour for all production members and $3.50/hour for members in the trades over the term;
- Additional General wage increases of 3% in the 2022, $1.30/hour in the 2023, 3% in the 2024 and $1.30/hour in the 2025;
- In total, wages will increase 22% to 24% over the term of the agreements;
- Significant enhancements to group benefits ($100 for vision, $200 increase in dental and orthodontics, $10,000 increase in life insurance, $1,000 for eye surgery and improvements in short and long-term disability);
- Night and Evening Shift Premium increased by $0.10/hour;
- Third week of vacation after 2 years of service;
- Double time for Sunday overtime after 4 hours;
- Union representatives will have a paid 30 minute period to meet with all new employees;
- $75 increase in annual boot allowance;
- Improved bereavement and statutory holiday pay based on regular scheduled hours;
- New maternity leave top-up program;
- New Unifor Women and Gender Diverse People's Advocate;
- An additional $1,020 annually in employer pension contributions for all Local 324 woodlands workers;
- 11% increase in Local 324 woodlands daily commuting per diem to $50 per day;
- $15 increase in Local 105 meal tickets to $50 at the pulp mill;
- new 7% supervisory and trainer premium for Local 105 pulp mill agreements;
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