According to the union, 89.5% of workers voted for the four -year agreement that will serve as a model for negotiations with all other employers in the forestry industry.

The employment contract covers seven Resolute Canadian pulp and paper mills. This includes an average wage increase of between 20 and 24% over the total term of the agreement.

Unifor said this also includes the establishment of a women’s representative at each plant, as well as significant improvements to the group’s insurance plan and other enhancements.

The new collective agreement affects 700 Unifor members, but nearly 15,000 members will benefit from the contract model in Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces, the union said.