FORT FRANCES – BUSINESS – Unifor Local 324-99, comprising 150 members, voted overwhelmingly in favor of a new collective agreement with West Fraser Timber covering its Barwick oriented strand board (OSB) mill near Fort Frances. The four-year agreement, which is retroactive to August 1, 2022, provides for a 23% average wage increase over the term with top production rates of pay reaching $43.79/hour and top trades pay reaching $51.60/hour, making it one of the largest wage increases in the forest industry in almost 40 years.
Katrina Peterson, Unifor Local 324 President, hailed the agreement as a solid, long-term deal that achieves some of the largest wage increases ever negotiated at this mill. Other key monetary and language improvements include $5,000 in lump sum payments, an increased $500 annual health spending account, and $250 annual boot allowance.
The new contract is retro-active to August 1, 2022 and remains in place until July 31, 2026. Key terms of the deal include:
– Salary adjustments of $2.50/hour for all production workers and $3.50/hour for trades over the term;
– Additional general wage increases of 3% in 2022, $1.30/hour in 2023, 3% in 2024 and $1.30/hour in 2025;
– Total average wage increase of 23% over term with top production rates of pay reaching $43.79/hour and top trades pay reaching $51.60/hour by the final year of the deal;
– $5,000 in lump sum payments over the term;
– Increased $500 annual health spending account;
– $1.00/hour first responder and $1.00/hour fire team premium;
– $250 annual boot allowance;
– Improved vision care coverage to $400;
– $3,000 orthodontic coverage;
– $4 increase in meal tickets to $20 meal;
– New maternity leave top-up program;
– New Unifor women’s advocate position;
– Up to 4.25% in additional wage adjustments for some maintenance positions;
– Improved clothing, vacation, apprenticeship and benefit language;
– Employer will make annual $4,000 contribution to Unifor Local 324 training fund.
