Steelworkers and Canfor Reach Tentative Deal

BURNABY, BC, Nov. 16, 2013 /CNW/ - The United Steelworkers (USW) has reached a tentative deal with Canadian Forest Products on a new collective agreement for forest workers in the BC Interior.

The tentative agreement was reached late Friday after Canfor and the USW resumed bargaining at the BC Labour Relations Board. The deal culminates five months of negotiations between the two groups.

The five-year deal provides significant pay increases for all workers, as well as adjustments to trades rates, improvements to health and welfare benefits, improved collective agreement language and provisions to secure the USW members' pension plan. 

In addition to a signing bonus and percentage wage increases, the agreement provides cash payments in the third, fourth and fifth years. 

More details will be released once the USW's BC Interior Bargaining Committee has had an opportunity to discuss the tentative agreement with union members. 

This tentative agreement will form the pattern for the remaining employers in the BC Interior.

SOURCE: United Steelworkers (USW)

Contacts:

Brad West, USW Communications, 604-683-1117, 604-754-1174, [email protected]