(Unifor Local 324 Bargaining Committee left to right) Mike Nyberg, Local 324 President Katrina Peterson, National Representative Stephen Boon, Nancy Silander, Ron Bergman, Dale Hartlin
Unifor workers at the Ear Falls sawmill have overwhelmingly approved a four year deal with Interfor.
A total of 150 members voted 97% in favour of the new contract.
National Representative Stephen Boon says the total monetary package contains some of the largest improvements in the forest sector in more than 35 years and positions the operation as one of the top paying sawmills in Eastern Canada.
Local 324 President Katrina Peterson says the deal provides long-term stability and builds upon their strong working relationship with the company, but most importantly, it provides improved contract language and major monetary gains that will address the high cost of inflation impacting their members and their families.
The contract is retro-active to May 1 and expires April 30, 2026.
Highlights include:
– 36% increase in licenced maintenance wages with top rates of pay reaching $49.99 on May 1, 2025
– 24% increase in production wages with top rates of pay reaching $39.49 on May 1, 2025
– Double time for unscheduled overtime on Sundays
– 2 additional floating holidays up to 5 per year
– $0.17 increase in shift differential to $1.00/hour on night shifts
– 25% increase in employer pension contributions up to 7.5% of earnings
– Increased statutory holiday pay
– Increased severance to 2 weeks per year of service
– Ability to break up 2 weeks of vacation into single days
– New travel compensation program for commuting employees living outside Ear Falls
– Expanded paid bereavement leave entitlements
– Up to $200 increase in boot allowance
– Improved job posting and relief language
– Increased life, disability, eye glass coverage and new fully paid eye exam coverage
– $50 increase in maintenance tool allowance to $800/year
– $20 increase in apprenticeship live out allowance to $50/day
– New maternity leave top-up program
– New Unifor women’s advocate position
– New 3-cent per hour paid education leave and annual $5,000 Local 324 training fund
– Commitment to maintain a cooperative and progressive relationship with Indigenous peoples
– Ongoing commitment to maintain strong labour relations with Unifor with union flag at mill main entrance
