Unifor has chosen Domtar as the pattern bargaining target for upcoming contract negotiations affecting 14,000 forestry workers across Eastern Canada.
Delegates from Unifor forestry locals made the selection during the union’s Eastern Forestry Wage Policy Conference held Feb. 4 to 6 in Montreal. The pattern agreement reached with Domtar will serve as the template for negotiations with other employers in the eastern forestry sector, including paper mills, sawmills and forestry operations.
“This is a critical moment for our forestry sector and for the members we represent across Eastern Canada,” said Lana Payne, Unifor national president. “The industry is facing a number of serious challenges, but we have been through difficult times before and I have complete confidence in our local leaders to achieve fair collective agreements that make progress for workers.”
Bargaining priorities
Key priorities discussed at the conference include wage improvements, pension security, benefit coverage, Employment Insurance protections, and measures to support workforce stability and long-term sustainability of operations.
The union is also calling on all levels of government to implement a national industrial strategy that prioritizes value-added manufacturing, rebuilds domestic supply chains and protects Canadian forestry jobs, according to Daniel Cloutier, Unifor Quebec director.
Industry challenges
The forestry sector continues to face tariffs imposed by the United States. Unifor is urging the federal government to increase domestic demand through initiatives such as Canada’s Housing Plan to help stabilize markets for Canadian wood and paper products.
Unifor represents 320,000 workers in the private sector across Canada.
