A new four-year agreement between Catalyst Paper Corporation and Unifor has been reached. The announcement was made on Monday, June 18.
According to a statement from Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union, the agreement remains tentative and details will be released upon ratification by union members. The vote will take place next week.
In the statement, Unifor said its bargaining team supports the agreement, calling it a fair and reasonable settlement.
The contract is Catalyst’s first positive news since March when the United States Department of Commerce slapped a 22 per cent anti-dumping duty on products produced by Catalyst, threatening its three BC mills.
Unifor calls the protectionist trade measures bully tariffs.
"These jobs are the backbone of entire communities," stated Unifor western regional director Joie Warnock. "We will continue to fight for workers and their families and for the future of the forestry industry."
After selling off its US assets recently, Catalyst’s only holdings are mills in Powell River, Crofton and Port Alberni.
The new contract covers Catalyst members represented by Unifor locals 1, 76, 592, 686 and 1132.
