150 sawmill workers in Ear Falls have a new tentative contract to sign.
Unifor Local 324 and Interfor say they’ve reached a new agreement for over 150 maintenance, production and woodyard employees at the Ear Falls Sawmill.
However, no details on the new deal are being released until membership meetings take place on November 6 in Dryden and November 7 in Ear Falls.
"We have developed an excellent working relationship with Interfor in Ear Falls and we are pleased to have achieved this solid, long-term deal that not only addresses the high cost of living facing our members and their families but will also help Interfor successfully recruit and retain production and trades employees for years to come,” says President of Local 324, Katrina Peterson.
The last collective agreement at the Ear Falls Sawmill expired on April 30, 2022. The new deal comes as Interfor reports record-high lumber production and shipments.
"The last collective agreement led to the re-start of the previously closed Ear Falls mill in the summer of 2014 and has allowed this operation to transform itself into one of the most productive stud mills in Ontario,” adds Unifor National Representative, Stephen Boon.
“This new tentative contract will now position the Ear Falls Sawmill as one of the top paying sawmills in Eastern Canada and the bargaining committee is unanimously recommending ratification at upcoming membership meetings."
Unifor is Canada’s largest private sector union, with more than 315,000 members across the country, working in every major sector of the Canadian economy.