Workers at Kruger’s Kamloops mill in British Columbia have ratified a new four-year collective agreement with 91 per cent approval, setting the pattern for negotiations across the Western Pulp and Paper Caucus.
The agreement, covering 245 members of Unifor Local 10-B, includes wage increases, a skilled trades adjustment, and benefit improvements, with no concessions, according to the union.
“There’s a whole-union approach at work here to deliver for forestry members as we fight back against unfair tariffs, work to develop a national industrial strategy, and negotiate strong collective agreements,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
The deal is expected to influence upcoming negotiations for 5,500 members of 13 Unifor locals and five Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC) locals in British Columbia and Alberta.
PPWC President Geoff Dawe said the forestry sector is facing challenges but also opportunities for growth.
“We’re proud to deliver a strong pattern-setting agreement for members of both Unifor and PPWC in the Western Pulp and Paper Caucus, starting with the Unifor members at Kruger Kamloops,” Dawe said.
The unions chose Kruger Kamloops as the target for pattern bargaining in December 2024. Unifor and PPWC have historically coordinated negotiations to set industry-wide standards.
Unifor represents 320,000 private-sector workers across Canada, while PPWC represents thousands of forestry and other sector workers in British Columbia.
