Dryden – BUSINESS – More than 550 Unifor members in the Dryden-based Domtar pulp mill and woodlands operations voted overwhelmingly in favour of new four year deals last night. Pulp mill employees voted 97% in favour of their new agreement with woodlands employees voting in favour by an 80% margin.
Stephen Boon, Unifor National Representative, said, “We are pleased that Unifor’s mill and woodlands members in Dryden have not only resisted all concession demands once again, but they have also achieved key local improvements and all elements of Unifor’s Eastern Canada Pulp and Paper Pattern.”
Top woodlands pay will increase to $36/hour with top pulp mill pay reaching almost $41/hour by the final year of the deals.
Key Terms of New Domtar Mill and Woodlands Deals
– 4 year term (September 1, 2014 to August 31, 2018)
– 2% annual wage increases
– $1000 signing bonus
– 75 cent per hour pay increase for trades
– improved dental and health benefits, $40 increase in boot allowance, $90 increase in vision coverage
– new 3 cent per hour employer paid education leave
– 9.3% increase in employer woodlands pension contributions along with 25% increase in retirement bridging
– increased woodlands commuting pay with an additional $1000 pay per year for drivers
– new paid benefits option for spare employees in woodlands
– new woodlands overtime banking option providing up 40 hours of additional paid time off per year
– expanded seniority and job posting rights for all woodlands operations
