Members of Unifor Local 10-B voted 80% in favour of a new four-year
contract with Domtar, that helps secure the future of the pulp mill with
significant investments over the next two years.
"Our new collective agreement is good for workers and good for the
community," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "We're proud
to work with Domtar to ensure a future for this mill and hundreds of good jobs
that Kamloops
can rely on."
The new collective agreement commits the parties to finding solutions on
retiree health benefits, it also works on retention and training of trade
workers, and streamlines administration while improving benefits. Unifor says
that these gains will be important for the next generation of mill workers as a
wave of retirements creates openings.
"The collaborative working relationship we have with the union is something that I'm very proud of" stated Jean-Claude Allaire, General Manager of the Domtar Kamloops Mill. "It's our commitment to finding innovative solutions that resulted in a meaningful agreement for both parties".
The framework of the new contract is built on Unifor's Western
Canada pulp and paper pattern agreement.
"The partnership between our union and Domtar can be a model for other
industrial workplaces," said Rene Pellerin, Local 10-B President. "By
maintaining a respectful working relationship, we have been able to secure
gains for workers, stability for the company, and opportunities for the
community."
In 2015, Unifor partnered with Domtar and Thompson Rivers
University to enhance the
quality of trades training in the region.
Unifor is Canada's
largest union in the private sector, representing more than 315,000 workers in
every major area of the economy, including nearly 23,000 forestry workers.