The Unifor union announced on Sunday that it has reached an interim agreement with Resolute Forest Products for the forest industry’s new model collective agreement.
The terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The proposal will be submitted for approval by Resolute workers within the next week. The result will be known on May 20.
” In the current context with labor shortages and rapid inflation, we need to ensure competitive and attractive working conditions, that is our main challenge. We are confident that we have reached the best possible agreement under the circumstances. “
Unifor said the paper industry’s contract model is to negotiate financial matters such as wages, benefits and pensions on a common table. Once the model is discussed, it serves as the basis for communication with all other employers in the forestry industry.
In March, Unifor appointed Resolute Forest Products to negotiate a model employment contract to be used for negotiations with the paper industry in eastern Canada, involving about 15,000 members.
Resolute was chosen because the company had several sectors of activity, such as pulp, newsprint, super calendered paper, Mr. Gagné explained at the time. Also, the rule is that the designated company must be present in at least two provinces.
Traditionally, the contract negotiated with the target company serves as a model for negotiations with other industries in this sector in Quebec, Ontario and the Atlantic provinces.
Source: Radio-Canada
