KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Members of Unifor Local 10-B voted 80 per cent in favour of a new four-year contract that helps secure the future of Domtar’s Kamloops pulp mill with significant investments over the next two years.

“Our new collective agreement is good for workers and good for the community,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor national president. “We’re proud to work with Domtar to ensure a future for this mill and hundreds of good jobs that Kamloops can rely on.”

Local media report that the four-year contract includes a two per cent wage increase in each year of the deal. The previous contract expired in May 2017.

Unifor says the new collective agreement commits the parties to finding solutions on retiree health benefits, it also works on retention and training of trade workers, and streamlines administration while improving benefits. Unifor says that these gains will be important for the next generation of mill workers as a wave of retirements creates openings.

“The collaborative working relationship we have with the union is something that I’m very proud of,” stated Jean-Claude Allaire, general manager of the Domtar Kamloops mill. “It’s our commitment to finding innovative solutions that resulted in a meaningful agreement for both parties.” The framework of the new contract is built on Unifor’s Western Canada pulp and paper pattern agreement.

In 2015, Unifor partnered with Domtar and Thompson Rivers University to enhance the quality of trades training in the region.

Photo courtesy of Domtar.